July - August 2018 The Graybeardsufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/04/67/53/00176/07-2018.pdf2 July - August 2018 The Graybeards Editor Arthur G. Sharp 2473 New Haven Circle Sun City

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July - August 2018July - August 2018 The GraybeardsThe Graybeards

Editor Arthur G. Sharp 2473 New Haven Circle Sun City Center, FL 33573-7141 Ph: 813-614-1326 [email protected] Advertising Manager Gerald W. Wadley Finisterre Publishing Inc. 3 Black Skimmer Ct Beaufort, SC 29907 843-521-1896 [email protected] Publisher Finisterre Publishing Inc. 3 Black Skimmer Ct Beaufort, SC 29907 [email protected]

Membership Office Address Changes, Corrections, & All Membership Questions Sheila Fritts Membership Administrative Assistant PO Box 407 Charleston, IL 61920-0407 Ph: 217-345-4414 [email protected] Webmaster Jim Doppelhammer Double Hammer Computer Services 430 W. Lincoln Ave. Charleston, IL 61920-7471 Ph: 217-512-9474 [email protected]

National Headquarters President Paul H. Cunningham 1841 Pool Frg Lancaster, PA 17601-4627 Ph: 717-299-1990 [email protected] Executive Director James R. Fisher 15537 Barrington Place Montclair, VA 22025 Ph: 703-740-7596 [email protected] Immediate Past President Tom Stevens 5301 W. 122nd Terrace Overland Park, KS 66209 Ph: 913-696-0447, 913-449-7990 (C) [email protected] 1st Vice President Jeffrey J. Brodeur 48 Square Rigger Ln Hyannis, MA 02601 Ph: 617-997-3148 [email protected] 2nd Vice President Albert McCarthy 15 Farnum St. Worcester, MA 01602 Ph: 508-277-7300 (C); 508-829-4236 (H) [email protected]

Secretary Alves J. Key, Jr. 5506 Emerald Park Blvd Arlington, TX 76017-4522 Ph: 817-472-7743 [email protected] Membership Manager & Assistant Secretary Jacob L. Feaster, Jr. 22731 N Hwy 329, Micanopy, FL 32667 Cell: 352-262-1845 [email protected] Treasurer Joseph L. Harman LR36534 430 W Lincoln Ave Charleston IL 61920-3021 Ph: 541-752-5588 [email protected] Assistant Treasurer Kyle Roberts, [email protected] 443-853-5124 (C) 202746-4232

Directors

Term 2016-2019 George J. Bruzgis 230 Legion Pl Haledon, NJ 07508-1420 Ph: 973-956-8672 [email protected] David J. Clark PO Box 552 Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-0552 Ph: 703-695-2186; Cell: 781-913-2735 [email protected] VACANT Luther W. Dappen 510 W Pipestone Ave Flandreau, SD 57028-1619 Ph: 605-997-2847 [email protected]

Term 2017-2020

Eddie L. Bell Sr. 1105 Craig St Copperas Cove, TX 76522-3206 Ph: 254-661-4673 [email protected]

Wilfred E. 'Bill' Lack 319 Sulphur Springs Rd Asheville, NC 28806-2518 Ph: 828-253-5709 [email protected]

Thomas M. McHugh 217 Seymour RD Hackettstown, NJ 07840-1001 Ph: 908-852-1964 [email protected]

L. T. Whitmore 5625 Canterbury Ln Suffolk, VA 23435-1605 Ph: 757-483-9784 [email protected]

Term 2018-2021 Edward L.Brooks 19091 Meadow Dr. Smithfield, VA 23430 Ph: 757-25-0121 [email protected] Narce Caliva 102 Killaney Ct Winchester, VA 22602-6796 Ph: 540-545-8403 (C) Cell: 540-760-3130 [email protected] Bruce R. 'Rocky' Harder 1047 Portugal Dr Stafford, VA 22554-2025 Ph: 540-659-0252 [email protected] Warren H Wiedhahn 13198 Centerpointe Way Ste 202 Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285 Ph: 703-590-1295 [email protected]

Appointed/Assigned Staff Judge Advocate William B. Burns 134 Saddlestone Place Apt F Camillus, NY 13031 Ph: 315-487-1750, [email protected] National Legislative Director Lewis R. Vaughn 623 Ashley Commons Ct Greer, SC 29651-5796 Ph: 864-848-0368; (C) 864-593-5754 [email protected] National Legislative Assistant Roy J. Burkhart PO Box 204 Willow, AK 99688 Ph: 907-841-9162, [email protected] National Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Richard “Rocky” Hernandez Sr. 114 Daffodil Dr. Killeen, TX 76542-1819 PH: 254-702-1009, [email protected] National VAVS Director J. D. Randolph 1523 Pinebluff Dr., Allen, TX 75002-1870 Ph: 972-359-2936, [email protected] POW/MIA Coordinator Bruce “Rocky” Harder 1047 Portugal Dr. Stafford, VA 22554-2025 Ph: 540-659-0252, [email protected] KWVA Liaison to Canadian KVA Warren Wiedhahn (See 1st Vice President) KWVA Liaison to Korean-American Assn. Jongwoo Han 310 Summerhaven Dr N East Syracuse, NY 13057-3127 Ph: 315-637-9836, [email protected] Chaplain Emeritus Robert Personette 7136 Oak Leaf Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95409 Ph: 707-539-7276, [email protected]

National Chaplain John W. 'Jack' Keep 3416 Mountain Rd Front Royal, VA 22630-8720 Ph: 540-631-9213 [email protected] National Assistant Chaplain Paul K. Kim 254 Concord Ave. Cambridge MA 02138-1337 617 877-1930 asianbaptists.org

KWVA Committees Budget/Finance Committee Bruce Harder (See Directors) Joe Harman (See Treasurer) Bylaws Committee Narce Caliva (see Directors) Membership/Recruiting Committee Eddie L. Bell Sr. (See Directors) Sonny Edwards 14370 Mill Swamp Rd Smithfield, VA 23430-3536 Ph: 757-357-2331, [email protected] Election Committee Tim Whitmore Resolutions Committee Luther W Dappen (See Directors) Tine Martin Fund Raising Committee Wilfred E. “Bill” Lack (See Directors) Tom McHugh (See Directors) Tell America Committee A. J. Key, Chairman (See Secretery) Tell America Materials Coodinator A. J. Key, Chairman (See Secretary) Revisit Committee Warren Wiedhahn 13198 Centerpointe Way Ste 202 Woodbridge, VA 22193-5285 Ph: 703-590-1295 [email protected] Ethics and Grievance Committee Stephen Szekely, Chairman National Ceremonies Committee David Clark (See Directors) Awards Committe Robert Fitts (see Directors) Scholarships Lewis M. ‘Lew’ Ewing

In loving memory of General Raymond Davis, our Life Honorary President, Deceased. We Honor Founder William T. Norris

See detailed list of committees at WWW.KWVA.US

The Graybeards is the official publication of the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA). It is published six times a year for members and private distribution. Subscriptions available for $30.00/year (see address below). MAILING ADDRESS FOR CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Administrative Assistant, P.O. Box 407, Charleston, IL 61920-0407. MAILING ADDRESS TO SUBMIT MATERIAL / CONTACT EDITOR: Graybeards Editor, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center, FL 33573-7141. MAILING ADDRESS OF THE KWVA: P.O. Box 407, Charleston, IL 61920-0407. WEBSITE: http://www.kwva.us

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The GraybeardsThe Graybeards July - August 2018July - August 2018

First, thank you

for trusting me with

this office by electing

me your president. I

am cognizant of the many challenges

facing our organization today, but I am

confident that with the talent and sup-

port of the officers and directors you

elected, we will be successful in resolv-

ing most of them.

My first official duties involved par-

ticipating in ceremonies at the Korean

War Memorial commemorating the start

of the Korean War. The Embassy of the

Republic of Korea sponsored this event.

Following remarks by ambassador Cho

and me, we were addressed by Thomas

J. “TJ” Kim, a middle school student in

Maryland whose topic was “This I

Believe.” He related to us what it meant

to be the first-born son of a first-born

son of a first-born son; his grandfather

was only two years old and living in

Busan when the war broke out.

In addition to his heart-warming

remarks, he donated $800 of money he

earned to Col. Bill Weber and the Wall

of Remembrance Foundation, as an

expression of gratitude for what our

intervention in their conflict allowed

him to become. I was very pleased to be

joined at this event by a large contin-

gent of members from chapters 33, 100,

312, and 317, as well as a dozen

KATUSA veterans.

Since March a committee headed by

Past President Larry Kinard has tele-

conferenced to develop a set of goals

for the organization. Guided by our

Mission Statements, the committee

came up with obtainable, measurable

objectives in each category. Their rec-

ommendations were submitted to the

Board of Directors for review and

approval at their July meeting. Pending

that outcome, you will be hearing much

more about these stated goals.

In my opening paragraph, I alluded

to the challenges facing our organiza-

tion. Chiefly, the loss of revenue

through lost membership and increased

costs is our major concern. To empha-

size this point, I will quote our previous

audit re the veterans who have served

during the Korean War. Their numbers

continue to decline and the average age

is 86 years. “The continued successful

operation of the Association is depend-

ent on recruitment of members who

served since the Korean Armistice

Agreement signed July 27, 1953.”

Reversing these trends will be a major

focus of my administration.

Plans for the Annual Membership

Meeting of KWVA have been released.

(See p. 31) The meeting will take place

at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel in

North Orlando, FL, from October 17-

21, 2018. Details can also be found on

the KWVA website. In addition to side

trips to several places of interest, par-

ticipants will have an opportunity to

engage with Dr. Jongwoo Han and a

group of Social Studies teachers who

will be interviewing veterans as part of

their task of writing lesson plans about

the Korean War.

I remind all members of our annual

KWVA Fundraising event. At present

proceeds from this event are running a

bit behind previous years. Funds raised

by this drive go to the support of our

highly touted magazine, The Graybeards.

Finally, I remind you that KWVA is

your organization. Officers and com-

mittee chairmen’s names are posted in

The Graybeards. Please contact me or

any Board member about any questions

you may have, or, submit items for

Board consideration through the

Resolutions Committee.

I am looking forward to meeting

many of you in Orlando.

Regards to all,

Paul H. Cunningham

From the President Paul Cunningham

THE GRAYBEARDS DEADLINES

Articles to be published in the The Graybeards must be received by the editor no

later than the 15th day of the first month of that issue. —Editor.

Jan-Feb ......................................................................................................Jan 15

Mar-Apr ....................................................................................................Mar 15

May-June ..................................................................................................May 15

July-Aug ....................................................................................................July 15

Sept-Oct ....................................................................................................Sept 15

Nov-Dec ......................................................................................................Nov 15

Plans for the Annual Membership Meeting of KWVA have been released. (See p. 31.) The meeting will take place at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel in North Orlando, FL, from October 17-21, 2018.

Ongoing Series

Remember that we have ongoing series for which we are always looking for submissions. Among them are:

• Where I was on July 27, 1953 • Humor in Korea • How I joined the KWVA We will continue the series as long as we receive your stories. Please send your submissions to

Arthur G. Sharp, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center, FL 33573.

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Business From the President ......................................................3 KWVA Annual Membership Meeting Rules of Decorum and Debate ..................................................6 Thanks for Supporting The Graybeards and the KWVA ..6 From the Secretary ......................................................7 Call for Board Meeting and Annual General Membership Meeting....................................................7 2018 Fundraiser............................................................8 Application for Korea Revisit & PCFY Tours ............66 Official Membership Application Form ......................69

Features & Articles Life and Death at Pork Chop Hill ..............................11 Angels or Gooney Birds?: Part 2 ..............................18 Air strip Brisco: an oasis under the enemy’s noses..22 Where were you on July 27th? ..................................56 The saga of USS Epping Forest (LSD-4) ..................68 The 37th Bombardment Squadron (L) Night Intruder ....72

Departments The Editor’s Desk ......................................................10 Members in the News ................................................16 Reunion Calendar 2018..............................................17 Humor in Korea ..........................................................21 Tell America ................................................................28 Chapter & Department News ....................................32 Feedback/Return Fire ................................................58 Recon Missions ..........................................................65 Welcome Aboard ......................................................68 Last Call ....................................................................78

News & Notes Korean War MIAs Recently Identified ..........................9 Thank You For Your Love ............................................9 Fifteen students earn 2018 American Veterans of Korea Foundation Award............................................12 DPAA Report ..............................................................14 Contributions to the Wall of Remembrance ..............15 2018 Annual Membership Meeting: Registration ......23 2018 Annual Membership Meeting: Schedule ..........24 Bridging Generations with Heroes of the Korean War ..26 Arranging Arirang interviews ......................................30 Memorial Day 2018 ....................................................52

July – August 2018 CONTENTSCONTENTS

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56

52

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COVER: The new Veterans Memorial in St. Peter, MN called “Freedom and Piece.”

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GRAYBEARDS DONATIONS Charles T. Carpenter FL Norman C. Cobb NH Merle Heidenreich SD

IMO Joey Livermore USN TX Takao Irizawa ON Russell A. Merrill MI Lawrence H. Morgan NJ John H. O’Hara MD Thomas W. Stevens KS Thomas H. Uyechi IL Stephen Wigmore MA George W. Zimmerman MN

KWVA DONATIONS Verden Baumgartner IL Y M. Yun Bothell WA George Nemith Camden DE Leonard ‘Len’ Deyoung MI Wendy M. McKenzie RI Overpayment on dues CID 258 Thomas J. O’Brien Jr. NY

Frank Gerald Rhodes CA Kathryn R. Schell PA Eric F. Thresh NY Carl E. White Sr. OH Bill C. Younger CA NMS NMS UN (3) The following are individual IMO NMSs:

IMO James Eugene (Jim) Clawson IMO Nick D’Ambra IMO Dean C. Ensley IMO George W. Hezlitt IMO Donald J. Marsau, Stockton CA IMO Roger Bolton Montgomery IMO George B. Pakkala IMO Jerome “Jerry’” Renth IMO Gay Sakamoto/Dean C Ensley IMO Carl Melvin Smith (3) IHO Marcel Verdooner, 90th DOB IMO Veterans Day Contrib-Members

Thanks for Supporting The Graybeards and the KWVA

CONTRIBUTOR LOCATIONCONTRIBUTOR LOCATION

Members are invited to help underwrite the publication costs of The Graybeards. All contributions in any amount are welcome. Mail your donations to KWVA Treasurer, 430 W. Lincoln Ave., Charleston, IL 61920 or [email protected]. All contributions will be acknowledged, unless the donor specifically requests to remain anonymous. And, if you have an “In memory of” (IMO) request, include that as well. We thank you for your generous support.

LEGEND: IMO = In Memory Of; NMS = Non Member Sales

BUSINESSKWVA Annual Membership Meeting Rules of Decorum and Debate (Based on Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10th Edition) 1. A voting member must obtain the floor and be recognized by the pre-siding officer, stating his position and name before addressing the assembly.

2. The voting member is to stand when addressing the assembly, and if the member makes a motion, that member has the first right to speak to the motion.

3. Voting members must be courteous and never attack or question the motives of other members.

4. Discussion shall be focused on the matter or idea in question, and not on personalities.

5. Voting members are limited to ten minutes on each subject during discus-sion, and may speak the second time only if all other voting members who wish to speak have spoken on the pending motion.

6. A voting member may speak more than twice if the assembly grants addi-tional time by a majority vote of the voting members present.

7. The Chair may recognize non-voting members attending the meeting only after voting members have completed their discussion on the pending motion.

8. The Chair may call for voting by a show of hands, or a voice yea or nay or standing vote. A secret ballot vote may be called for by a request of one-fifth (1/5) of the voting members present.

9. The above rules may be amended, suspended, or rescinded by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of at least a quorum of the voting members present

Holiday and continuing series stories wanted

For the 2016 and 2017 November-

December issues we solicited stories for a spe-

cial holiday section. We had pretty good

responses. Let’s start building our inventory

now for the November-December 2018 hol-

iday issue. Please send any new stories, pho-

tos, and art work describing anything memorable, special,

or routine that occurred involving you, your unit, your

friends…on the major year-end holidays, e.g.,

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, New Year’s Day,

Boxing Day…

The material can relate to war time or peacetime.

Hopefully we will get enough stories, photos, and art

work to fill another issue.

Remember that we are also looking for stories in our

continuing “Where was I on July 27th?” and “Humor in

Korea” series.

Send your new stories and photos to Arthur G. Sharp,

The Graybeards Holiday Editor, 2473 New Haven Circle,

Sun City Center, FL 33573. Or, submit them electronical-

ly to [email protected].

Tell America Resources and Information

On this 68th anniversary of the armistice ending active fighting in

Korea, pause for a moment to reflect on your experiences in

Korea and ask yourself this question: am I and other chapter mem-

bers prepared if a school or civic group requests a presentation about

their service in Korea? If not, KWVA Tell America resources are

available to help you do so.

Although helpful, making a compelling presentation does not

require the use of computers and digital presentations. Consider the

following presentation toolbox:

• A Brief Account of the Korean War booklet by Jack Walker (digital

print copy available for teachers)

• Korean War military history map chart as visual (24 inches by 35

inches)

• Ryan Yantis KWVA Tell America PowerPoint (slides can be printed

as presentation outline)

• Korea Reborn-A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years

of Growth

• A comprehensive list of Korean War Internet video and print infor-

mation links (helpful supplemental material for history teachers)

• Your Korea story (3 to 5 minutes max)

• When and where you served

• What you carried and wore

• What compelling memories you have

• What you think of Korea today

• What you hope comes of out of sharing your Korean War-Korea

Defense experience

Remember that Korea Veterans and the Defense Veterans who

followed are the most compelling witnesses to the historical narra-

tive. Teachers can impart information about the war, but you can give

first-hand reports of what occurred and the cost of freedom paid by

those who served there.

You are still living reminders of that cost, and the resolve that

forged an armistice that made it possible in 60 years for the South

Korean people to form a thriving democracy and become a world

economic power.

If transportation to a program request is needed, ask the person

making the request. Most, if not all, groups will likely provide trans-

portation to and from their location.

If you have not recorded your Korea story for the Korean War

Veteran Digital Memorial, please consider doing so. Instructions for

submitting your interview narrative are available at

http://www.kwvdm.org/participate.php?p=submit A. J. Key, Tell America, 817-504-6937, [email protected]

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From the Secretary Alves J. “AJ” Key

BUSINESS

You are still living reminders of that cost, and the resolve that forged an armistice that made it possible in 60 years for the South Korean people to form a thriving democracy and become a world economic power.

The Board meeting is called for Wednesday, October 17, 2018 from 0900 until 1400. The Annual General Membership Meeting

is called for Thursday, October 18, 2018, from 0900 until 1130. The meetings will take place at the Sheraton Orlando North, 600 North Lake Destiny Drive, Maitland, Florida 32751 and continue with recesses through the completion of all business properly brought before them. Members with items proposed for the meeting must insure that they reach Alves Key, Association Secretary, no later than September 18, 2018. To make a reservation: Hotel Reservations: 1-866-837-5175. The hotel’s online address is www.starwoodmeeting.com Book/Korean

WarVeterans You must mention “Korea War Veterans” to get the special KWVA Convention rate. Agenda • Call to Order • To the Colors/Pledge of Allegiance

• Invocation • Administrative Announcements • Adopt Agenda • Adopt KWVA Annual Membership Meeting Rules of Decorum & Debate • Roll Call and Introductions/Recognition of New Officers/Directors • Annual Treasurer’s Report • Approval of Annual General Membership Meeting Minutes of the June 24, 2017 Meeting • Old Business • New Business • Reports from Select Committees • For the Good of the Order • Motion to Adjourn • Benediction • Salute to the Colors

A. J. Key, [email protected]

Call for Board Meeting and Annual General Membership Meeting 2018

2018 FUNDRAISER

Winners to be drawn at October 2018 banquet.

Donation $20 for each ticket. To enter this fundraiser,

complete the attached form. Winners will be

announced on www.KWVA.us and in The Graybeards.

Deadline for ticket donations is Sept 15, 2018

Contact Wilfred Lack, Director, Chairman Fundraiser Committee, (828) 253-5709, [email protected] for info.

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It is time to enter the 2018 KWVA Fundraiser. As always, we need your help to keep the KWVA functioning. Several things are threatening our future. With your help we

can eliminate them.

First and foremost, I thank every member who participated in the 2017 fundraiser. We sur-passed our 2017 goal of $70,000; let’s contin-ue the trend in 2018. This total included individ-uals who, rather than participate in the drawing, donated directly. A few others wrote KWVA and their member number on tickets. Had their names been drawn, the prize would have been put into the fundraiser total. Thank you all. However you contribute your participation is greatly appreciated.

There are no administrative costs. All dona-tions help support The Graybeards, “Tell America,” and other KWVA programs. The “ALL CASH PRIZES” comprise a 1st prize of $1,500 and FOUR $1,000 prizes. These are “MEMBER ONLY PRIZES.” Each ticket requires a donation of $20.00. Be certain to put your member num-ber on the ticket. I look forward to again notify-ing the winners.

Think of what you can do with your win-nings: take a vacation…pay bills…purchase a special item…renovate a room (or more)….attend the KWVA Membership Meeting in Orlando in October…

President Stevens enjoyed picking the 2017

winners. No doubt his successor will be happy to pick the 2018 winners. We thank you and wish “GOOD LUCK” to all members who donate.

In addition to the chances in the enclosed flyer, KWVA Challenge Coins, with Bulk Prices, Hats, Pins, Patches (including the “NEW KOREA WAR and KOREA DEFENSE PATCH”) are avail-able through our Membership Office. Please call Sheila at 217-345-4414 or visit the KWVA.org website to purchase these items.

KWVA coins are an excellent way to raise funds for your chapters. They make fantastic gifts for your supporters and our wounded mil-itary cherish these coins. The wounded troops are always happy to receive these special coins from the Korean War veterans. We are proud to do it, and you can do it also.

Buy some coins at bulk prices. Sell some for $20.00 and give some away to the wounded personnel in the hospitals and veterans homes. Donate some of the profit back to the KWVA. We need your support.

If anyone has a question, problem, or needs help in any way, please contact Fundraiser Chairman Bill Lack, 828-253-5709, [email protected]. I thank you in advance for your participation.

Always Remember: “FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.”

THE 2018 KWVA FUNDRAISER

Here is the up-to-date list of Korean War MIAs ID’s as of July 24, 2018.

U.S. Army NAME UNIT DATE/PLACE LOST M/Sgt. Leonard K. Chinn Co. D, 2nd Eng. Combat Bn., 2nd Inf. Div. 4/30/1951 NK Cpl. Pfc. Joe S. Elmore Co. A, 1st Bn., 32nd Inf. Rgt., 7th Inf. Div. 12/2/1950 NK Sgt. John W. Hall HQ Btry, 503rd FA Bn. 2nd Inf. Div. 12/1/1950 NK Pvt. Delbert J. Holliday Co. C, 1st Bn., 7th Cav. Rgt., 1st Cav. Div. 11/30/1950 NK Cpl. DeMaret M. Kirtley Btry. A, 57th FA Bn., 31st RCT, 7th Inf. Div. 12/6/1950 NK Morris Meshulam Btry D, 82nd AAA Auto.Weapons Bn., 2InfDiv. 12/1/1950 NK Albert E. Mills Co. F, 2nd Bn., 5th Cav. Rgt., 1st Cav. Div. 7/25/1950 SK Cpl. Francisco Ramos-Rivera Co. H, 2nd Bn., 19th Inf. Rgt., 24th Inf. Div. 7/20/1950 SK

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Roger Gonzales U.S.M.C. Reserve F/2/7 1st Marine Div. 11/29/1950 NK Sgt. Meredith F. Keirn F/2/7 1st Marine Div. 11/30/1950 NK

Korean War MIAs Recently Identified

LEGEND: NK = North Korea SK = South Korea SFC = Sgt. 1st Class

By “Granddaughter” Hannah Y Kim Hello Grandpas: Thanks to your love

and support, I’ve made it through my

50-state, 70+-city, 90-day journey to

visit Korean War Memorials (KWMs)

across our beautiful nation. It was the

most fulfilling and humbling experience

in my life to meet so many of you in per-

son, to express how much I thank and

love you.

As previously mentioned, I embarked

on this whirlwind Odyssey on April 27

(my birthday) with an ambitious mission

to raise awareness and funds for the

Wall of Remembrance at the National

Korean War Memorial in Washington,

DC. In the process, I wanted to remind

America that Freedom is Not Free—that

every single state, however large or

small, suffered casualties in the Korean

War.

I also intended to bring some atten-

tion to the Memorials that many of the

KWVA chapters worked so hard to build

in their communities. They serve as a

somber reminder that someone from

their hometown went to Korea and

didn’t come back; that even almost 70

years after, there are too many still

unaccounted for.

While placing flowers in each memo-

rial, I’ve earnestly prayed for the suc-

cess of the current peace talks. Anytime

we talk about bringing our soldiers back

home is better than talking about send-

ing our soldiers to fight. I’m crossing

my fingers for the remains of the

POW/MIAs to be repatriated. We can

never give up.

Likewise, the WOR won’t get built in

a day. But we’ll keep on trying! One

thing for sure, you can count on me to

continue honoring your legacy. I’ll

never forget the smiles on your faces as

I gave you my hugs and kisses. I hope

you don’t forget me either.

Thank you for showering me with

your love during my visits. I miss you

dearly.

NOTE: Hannah furnished many photos which we cannot include here due to lack of space. We will get to them in the next issue.

Thank You for Your Love

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The Editor’s Desk© Art Sharp

Would you bring your parents

to boot camp?

When warfighters end their active

duty stint there is always someone to

replace them. My replacement arrived

56 years later in the person of my

granddaughter Helga—under some

pretty strange circumstances. (I’m not

using her real name here. I’m using

someone else’s.)

Helga earned her appointment to the

U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CGA) as a

member of the Class of 2022. She

worked extraordinarily hard for her

acceptance. I believe that she was my

replacement in the U.S. armed forces—

even though I completed my active duty

in 1962, and the country seems to have

withstood the gap. Nonetheless, there

was something bizarre about her enlist-

ment day.

The CGA held a group enlistment for

the Class of 2022, aka “swabs,” on July

1, 2018. Families delivered their soon-

to-be-ensigns around 7 a.m. The enlist-

ment ceremony was scheduled for 3

p.m. That gave the parents some down

time before they sent their children off

into the strange new world of the mili-

tary that afternoon. (Well, some of

them: one “swab” in Helga’s company

did not show up that morning. Another

one disappeared between his arrival and

the enlistment ceremony. Some people

just are not cut out for military life.)

Understandably, the kids were appre-

hensive. (Do you remember how you

felt on your first day of boot camp?)

The cadres herded them off en masse

for haircuts, clothing allocations, etc.—

and to teach them how to march so they

could parade onto the drill field later for

the enlistment ceremony. Teach them

how to march in formation in two

hours? That would be like trying to line

up a flock of tasered worms to march

them in formation to a bait store for a

fishing tournament. Oh well, optimism

reigns supreme among military leaders.

At about 2:30 p.m. the Class of 2022

marched onto the field. Surprisingly

they looked like they had been practic-

ing “troop and stomp” for a while—a

half hour at least. I watched the swear-

ing-in ceremony from my Florida post

via streaming.

The temperature was almost 100° F,

but that did not deter the scheduled

speakers from offering their words of

wisdom to the Class of 2022, none of

whom were listening as they stood at

parade rest wondering what hell was

about to break loose later that afternoon

after their parents were gone and for the

next 7-1/2 weeks of “boot camp,” dur-

ing which they were all but separated

completely from the outside world. (No

doubt they were wondering what parade

rest was too.)

After they were sworn in the swabs

had thirty minutes to say their final

“good byes.” There were a lot of tears

flowing on the CGA grounds during

that time, from both the swabs and their

families. (Incidentally, if you have

never seen the CGA, located in New

London, CT, it is worth a visit, especial-

ly if the Coast Guard tall ship Eagle is

in port.) Then came the dreaded

“Parents, get the heck out” announce-

ment, and all hell broke loose. That’s

where it got weird.

The cadres—who are second-year

students—began screaming at the

swabs to get them into formation and

march them off to hell week like they

were rassling a bunch of six-week-old

chickens to the butcher—while the par-

ents were still there. I found that a bit

unusual.

The last sight and sound in many

cases openly crying, moms, dads, and

the other guests saw were their terrified,

in many cases openly crying, kids being

harassed by mean cadres. That had to be

disconcerting to the parents, who had to

be wondering why the chaos couldn’t

wait. (It reminded me of my first day

and night at Parris Island, where we

were too terrified to cry.)

I simply opened a beer and let my

mind drift back to August 1962. I fig-

ured if I could sail through Parris Island

without any difficulty, Helga could sail

through swab training. As far as I know

she is still there.

I had prepped her as best I could

before she left. I told her that basic

training was simply a game during

which the trainers were trying to sepa-

rate the not-cut-out-to-be military peo-

ple from the future admirals by tearing

them down and building them up. “If

you can get through the first few days

you will realize that the whole thing is a

game that millions of recruits have

won,” I said. “We’ll all be saluting you

in four years, and that terror-filled first

day will be nothing but a laughable

memory.”

But, did the Coast Guard have to

start that first day with the parents still

there? I wouldn’t be surprised if a few

moms and dads snuck their kids out of

New London before they even started

their training. And I wonder where my

parents were on my first day at Parris

Island. No doubt they were home cele-

brating the fact that I wasn’t at home—

while crying openly for joy.

Hey, boot camp in any branch of the

armed forces can be intimidating—but

the rewards for completing it far out-

weigh the temporary terror.

The last sight and sound in many cases open-ly crying, moms, dads, and the other guests saw were their terrified, in many cases openly crying, kids being harassed by mean cadres. That had to be disconcert-ing to the parents, who had to be wondering why the chaos couldn’t wait.

By Robert E. Miller

As I recall the Company CP was on the left side of the trench

as we went up the hill. A sleeping bunker was at the main

fork above Co. A’s CP. That is where I was sleeping before the late

night guard duty, when all hell broke loose.

Richard Shea was the Executive Officer of Co. A, 17th. Lt.

Shea was a true leader. He was greatly concerned about the men

and their morale. On one occasion he talked with me about being

ready at all times.... keeping my rifle clean and seeing to it that I

had plenty of ammo and hand grenades. (At 5 p.m. each afternoon

we fired a clip of ammo to test fire our rifles.) He would never ask

a soldier to do anything that he would not do himself. He was

what you call “I show and you follow me” or “Do as I am doing”

person.

On another occasion he had us working on refortification of

the bunkers, e.g., putting in new support beams and sand bags.

Another time he assigned me to guard and supervise a work detail

of Korean civilians who were digging the open trenches deeper. I

was told to watch them closely and not to let them get above the

trench line, because they might signal the North Koreans or the

CCF as to where we were and what they were doing. (After all the

North Koreans knew what we were doing. They even called out

the company roster when we moved on the “Chop.”)

Lt. Shea told me, “Do not let anyone pocket anything or go and

relieve himself without a GI going with him.” In other words, he

said, “Do not trust these workers; you may be fighting them

tonight.” They were known to sell information they gathered

while working.

Angelo Palermo, of Oakmont, PA, now deceased, of Co. A,

told me “At the time I saw this moving wall of men I was assigned

to another squad for duty that night.” He said they fought till they

ran out of ammo, and then they fought with bayonets and rifle

butts before retreating to the company area. Once back in the

company area he was sent to rejoin his (my) squad.

By this time I had been wounded. Paul Sanchez had already

tied bandages on my shattered broken left leg and to my right leg,

which had been blown off below the knee. (Thanks Paul). My

squad leader, Charlie Brooks, and a handful of men (with my con-

sent) decided to work their way outside the bunker and go get help

for me.

We thought the tunnel leading to the CP was held by CCF or

North Korean troops. Before they left, I had them place a case of

hand grenades beside me. For hours, every time I heard an enemy

soldier talking, I threw a grenade around the comer leading

toward communist-held areas. The talking stopped. No one over-

ran my position.

Anyway, Angelo finally made it to my position. He couldn’t

believe they would leave me all alone, wounded and sitting on the

ground, my rifle jammed, with only a case of grenades. I told him

no one had come around the bend in the tunnel, and I still had 3/4

of a case of grenades left.

Angelo said, “I made it here through the tunnel without any

problems. I will go back and get a medic.” Before leaving he

rechecked the bandages on my legs and said, “They will be okay

until help arrives.”

Hours passed, and half a dozen or more grenades were thrown

with the same results. Finally, all of a sudden, a flame thrower

went off behind me, around the comer, in the direction of the CP.

The flames came within 10 to 15 feet of me.

I yelled, “What the hell are you doing? Cut that damn thing

off.”

It was a great feeling when I heard one of the guys say “He is

one of us.”

I was placed on a litter and carried back through the tunnel,

past the CP, and down the hill into an open trench. The trench was

lined with reinforcement troops. I do not know which company it

was, but it was about 10 a.m. the morning of July 8th.

My litter bearers stopped for a moment. I believe the men

going up the hill saw for their first time the true reality of war.

Their comments I will not repeat.

Anyway, having been without water or food since the after-

noon of July 6th, I asked if anyone had a drink of water. A soldier

I didn’t know said,” Here is my canteen. Take it. You need it more

than I do.”

After a drink, I offered it back to him, but he said, “You keep

it.”

“Thank you,” was all I could say. I often wish I knew who he

was because I owe him a BIG THANKS.

Then we were going down the hill again, passing a long line of

soldiers going up. I was placed in a personnel carrier and taken to

a chopper pad and placed outside the chopper under a plastic or

glass cover and flown to a hospital at Teague. I remember the

chopper ride well.

The pilot would look down at me to see if I was okay. With my

arms tucked under the blankets, I could only nod my head yes. I

think he understood.

I stayed several days at Teague while surgery was done on my

leg, getting me ready for a trip to Osaka Army Hospital in Japan.

While there I listened to the radio report about the signing of a

truce. Then the long list of POWs who were released was

announced. I even heard the names of men from my squad.

While there I received a letter from Company Commander

Roberts. He wanted to know what had happened in my area. I

answered to the best of my knowledge. I haven’t heard from him

since. Neither did I see any of the squad after the battle for the hill,

until I met Paul Sanchez at a 7th Inf. Division Reunion at Fort

Ord, California.

I visited Angelo Palermo and met Dale Cain at a 17th Inf. Reg.

meeting at Fort Smith, Arkansas. I talk to squad leader Sgt.

Brooks by phone from time to time. He also lives in PA.

In September 1953, I left Osaka Army Hospital for Walter

Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. I was released in July of

1954. Then “a different life began for me.”

Robert Miller, PO Box 1813, Morganton, NC 28680, 828-437-5527 11


Life and death at Pork Chop Hill

12


Allison Biddinger Allison is a 2018 honors graduate of Bartlesville High School in

Bartlesville, OK. She was an active member of the National Honor Society and played the violin in her high school symphonic orchestra. A compet-itive swimmer, she has been a member of the Phillips 66 Splash Club for the past 10 years and was a key member of the four-time State Champion Bartlesville High School Varsity Lady Bruins Swim Team. Allison was also selected as a 2018 Oklahoma Academic All-Stater, which recognizes the top 100 high school seniors in the state and she was named the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise’s “Student of the Year.” She is a rising first-year student at Purdue University, where she will be studying bio-medical engineering.

Haley Blanchard Haley will be a junior at the University of Georgia this fall, majoring in

Public Relations with a minor in Human Services. She is very involved in community activities and will be volunteering with the Wesley ministry leading a group of girls residing on campus. She will be working with her Alpha Orincron Pi Sorority sisters as they raise awareness and financial contributions to support the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization. Haley also will serve with Simple Charity, which promotes events that assist noteworthy charities geared toward helping others in need. Upon graduation, she hopes to work for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta or another non-profit organization geared toward serving those in need.

Sarah Farnsworth Sarah lives in Marysville, Ml and is the proud granddaughter of

Commander Richard Haney, a Korean War Veteran. She is a third-year student majoring in Elementary Education at Michigan State University with teaching focuses in Language Arts and Mathematics. Sarah works as a paraprofessional volunteer helping special needs children as a math and reading tutor in local elementary schools and participates in a teach-ing study program in China. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and friends.

Emma Fournier Emma is the granddaughter and great niece of Korean War veterans

and resides in Groton, MA. She is a 2018 graduate of Groton-Dunstable

Regional High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, was a three-season varsity athlete lettering in both field hockey and track and served as secretary of her high school class. She will attend Tulane University in New Orleans in the fall, majoring in Chemical Engineering.

Lily Hoffman Lily will be a freshman attending the University of Toledo this fall,

where she will be majoring in Business at her hometown university. She is a recent graduate of Toledo Central Catholic High school, the same school where her grandparents and her mother and father first met. Lily finds pleasure in playing the piano, playing tennis, and spending time with her family. One day, she hopes to own a small family business.

Julia Jackman Julia is entering her sophomore year at Barrett, the Honors College at

Arizona State University where she currently studies Medicinal Biochemistry and is minoring in Civics and Economic Thought and Leadership. During the school year, she actively participates in Best Buddies (a club that works to create friendships between special needs individuals and students at ASU). She also is involved with the American Medical Women’s Association and the Barrett Housing Complex, where she will work as a Resident Assistant during the 2018-19 school year.

Julia is spending the summer in Trujillo, Peru, where she is doing med-ical work and public health outreach. She also enjoys 3D printing, running and spending time with her family and friends. She hopes to possibly become a physician in the Public Health Service in the future.

Olivia Jackman Olivia is a sophomore at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State

University where she is pursuing degrees in Supply Chain Management, Finance, and Business Health Care. Olivia hopes to one day work with the deliverer of medical supplies and infrastructure to developing nations. At ASU, Olivia is involved in DECA and loves to participate in intramural sports with her friends. She hopes to continue her record of always being on the Dean’s List.

Elise Jensen Elise will be entering her sophomore year at Northern Arizona

Fifteen students earn 2018 American Veterans of Korea Foundation Scholarships

For the fifth consecutive year the American Veterans of Korea Foundation (AVKF), chaired by its founder, the Honorable Kim Jung Hoon, has presented $2,000.00 scholarships to some of our most deserving young students. This year they graciously increased the number of scholarships from the 10 they have funded in the past, to 15, to assist descendants of Korean War veterans with their college expenses.

We again extend our sincere thanks to Rep. Kim and the Board of Directors of the AVKF for their generosity and thank them for their continued support. Rep. Kim stated, “The AVKF Scholarship program was established in order to commemorate the noble sacrifice and honor of the American veterans of the Korean War.”

As always, the Scholarship Selection Committee, consisting of KWVA members Lew Ewing, Chairman, Narce Caliva and Jim Markley, commends all the outstanding young students who submitted applications this year from locations throughout the United States. This year’s recipients were recognized at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. on July 27, 2018 during the Annual Korean War Armistice Ceremony commemorating the 65th signing of the Korean War Armistice. The fifteen (15) 2018-19 Scholarship Recipients are:

13


University, where she is seeking degrees in Nursing and Spanish, with aspirations to one day become a pediatric nurse. She is a graduate of Apple Valley High School in her hometown of Apple Valley, MN. Elise is a member of the Student Nurses Association and serves as a tutor for pre-nursing students in courses such as chemistry, biochemistry and micro-biology. She loves spending time with her family and friends and getting together with people at sporting events.

Joshua Kline Josh lives in Greencastle, PA. He attended Greencastle-Antrim High

School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council and var-sity soccer team. He was selected 1st Team All-Star High

School in soccer. Named to the Distinguished Honor Roll, he graduat-ed Magna Cum Laude. He will be attending Lebanon Valley College this fall, seeking a doctorate in Physical Therapy, while playing on the men’s soccer team. He is a member of a travel soccer team that is ranked 3rd in Pennsylvania and 48th in the nation. In his spare time he helps coach a soccer team.

Juliet Pioli Juliet was born and raised in Annapolis, MD, where she was a Magna

Cum Laude graduate of Broadneck High School. She currently studies nursing at the University of South Carolina and has earned Dean’s List her freshman year. Outside her studies, Juliet frequently volunteers at The Harvest for Hope Foodbank in Columbia, SC and her university commu-nity garden. Her paternal grandfather was a combat Korean War veteran from 1952-54. Her maternal grandfather is a Korean Defense veteran, serving in 1963-64.

Anna-Kate Ragan Anna-Kate, who lives in Toledo, OH with her parents and four brothers,

is a graduate of Notre Dame Academy High School, where she was involved in the Latin Club, musicals, and bible study, among other things. Throughout her high school years, she volunteered as a tutor to elemen-tary school students and during her senior year was responsible for men-toring and tutoring freshman students. Anna -Kate has studied the piano for eleven years and enjoys playing classical pieces. She will be attending Hillsdale College this fall, majoring in history with a minor in classical edu-cation, with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.

Anna Roussel Anna is a recent Honor Graduate of Searcy High School in Searcy, AR,

where she played an active role in numerous clubs and organizations. She was the captain of the Lion flag line for two years and her group was invit-ed to participate in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D. C. on May 28, 2018. She was the editor of her high school yearbook for three years and was named Arkansas 2018 Yearbook Editor of the Year. Anna also served as the treasurer of her Key Club, president of the French Club, and is an active member at First Baptist Church in her hometown. She plans to attend Ouachita Baptist University this fall to major in Communications and Political Science.

Tristan Turner Tristan is a 2018 graduate of Clean Technologies and Sustainable Early

College High School, where he was a Scholar Athlete participating on the golf, bowling, and track teams. While he was in high school, he also

attended Hudson Valley Community College and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology this fall, majoring in Chemical Engineering and seeking a BS degree in Chemical Engineering and an MS degree in Material Science in the school’s five year dual degree program. After grad-uation, Tristan wants to continue his advocacy for a clean sustainable planet and develop a safe, friendly environment for everyone.

Bailey Volbrecht Bailey is a 2018 graduate of Billings Senior High School, where she

was the valedictorian of her senior class, a member of the National Honor Society, and a member of the Senior Advocates. Also, she was a scholar athlete participating for four years as a member of both her volleyball and track and field teams and a three year participant on her high school bas-ketball team. Bailey attended the Young Life Christian youth group and competed in the Montana Math Competition annually. She will be attend-ing Grand Canyon University this fall, majoring in Biology, and then go on to medical school to become a doctor/dermatologist.

Abigail Willis Abigail graduated from high school in June of 2018 as one of the vale-

dictorians of her class. During her high school years, she participated in student government and the worship team. She also played on her school’s varsity girls’ basketball team for two years, and served as co-captain of the team both years. Abigail is currently working at a local blue-berry farm, as she did last summer to earn money for college. This fall she will attend Corban University to work toward obtaining a degree in Elementary Education and hopes to become a kindergarten teacher.

14


Here are excerpts from the Defense POW/MIA

Accounting Agency’s (DPAA) report from the May 2018

Quarterly Family Group/Veterans Service Organizations

Update. We have included only those sections relevant to the

Korean War. This report covers information available through

early May 2018 and does not address recent activities involv-

ing the U.S./North Korean Summit talks recently completed.

That information was reported in the July 17th update.

I will represent the KWVA at that meeting and will report

on anything significant concerning the Korean War personnel

accounting effort.

Bruce Harder, KWVA POW/MIA Coordinator, 540-659-0252, [email protected]

● The President’s budget request for FY19 of $130.6M is

being considered by Congress.

● May 2018: DPAA met with a Chinese delegation for

consultations at the Pentagon, pressing them on archival

information and stable, sustained field work and introduced

the concept of public-private partnerships.

On a positive note, the People’s Liberation Army Archives

has increased manpower and funding, and are able to fund

more field surveys. Additionally, they expressed an openness

to public-private partnership initiatives. China is the only

country where there are losses from all four conflicts:

Vietnam War, the Korean War, the Cold War, and World War

II.

● US-North Korea Summit, June 2018: DPAA closely

worked with the National Security Council (NSC), the

Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of State

to better shape/define the issue of Korean War unaccounted

for in North Korea.

● DPAA’s Indo-Pacific Regional Directorate continues to

plan and is prepared to receive unilateral remains turned over

from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

and is in a be-prepared-to position for negotiations and sub-

sequent field operations should those avenues matriculate

from Department of State led negotiations. Richardson

Center is also actively engaged in North Korea and U.S. dis-

cussions on repatriation.

● March 24, 2018 El Paso, TX Family Member Update

(FMU)

On March 24, 2018, the Agency hosted a meeting in El

Paso, Texas for 90 family members of missing servicemen,

including 21 missing personnel from the Korean War.

● April 21, 2018, Rapid City, SD, FMU

On April 21, 2018, the Agency hosted an FMU in Rapid

City, SD for 67 family members of missing servicemen,

including 15 missing personnel from the Korean War.

● Provided an update on current operations in Laos,

Kiribati (Tarawa), the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and

South Korea. Additionally covered planned operations within

the next 60 days that includes two partnership missions to

Northern Marianas (East Carolina University and the

Philippines (University of Illinois at Chicago), as well as

planned activities in Vietnam, the Solomon Islands and Laos.

Disinterments: There have been 120 disinterments conducted since

October of 2017 (71 WWII/Korea from the National

Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) and 49 WWII

from the Manila American Cemetery). Currently there are no

additional disinterments scheduled at either cemetery until

after the conclusion of all Memorial Day activities/remem-

brances.

Statistics: FY 2018 Identifications, as of May 4, 2018:

Korean War = 15 identifications of unaccounted-for per-

sonnel

Question and Answer Question: Are there any LKAs (Last Known Alive) for the

Korean War? National League of POW/MIA Families pointed

out that there were personnel known to have been captured

that would be LKAs.

Answer: There is not a formalized LKA program for the

Korean War as was established in the 1980s for the Vietnam

War. However, there are certainly cases of Korean War miss-

ing who we know survived their shoot down, were in captiv-

ity, and who did not return after the Armistice. We continue

to press both the Chinese and Russian governments for any

information they may possess on these men.

Question from Coalition of Families: I have a three-part question regarding your plans for joint

operations in North Korea: how many operations do you plan

to propose for FY19? Will you focus on battle fields as was

previously done or will you ask to visit air loss sites?

Understanding that the North Koreans are unlikely to allow

your investigators to interview witnesses around the country,

have you thought about a program where they or a third party

would conduct interviews with witnesses to losses to ensure

that information is not lost forever?

Answer: When we are allowed to negotiate with the

DPRK, we will propose three Joint Field Activities preceded

by an advance mission to construct base camps and other

requirements. We are anticipating JFAs lasting 45-56 days,

depending on weather windows. End of October to mid-

March the ground is frozen. Mid-March to mid-October is the

operational window with monsoon and typhoon season from

mid-June to the end of August.

Our intent is not to detract from recovery and investigative

missions for other wars. North Korea has been historically

averse to allowing us to visit crash sites, so we are going to

DPAA Report

15


initially ask to return to the battlefield loss areas where there

are large numbers of missing. In anticipation of future possi-

ble access, however, the Joint Commission division has

assembled information gathered from Russian archival work

relating to crash sites. Our negotiations will definitely

address access to witnesses.

Question from Korean War advocate: Previously we con-

ducted five JFAs in North Korea? Why are we not doing so

again? Did the Chinese make any commitments on recover-

ies—in particular, Dandong? I did not hear much about the

K-208 and Punchbowl IDs.

Answer: We plan to conduct four operations—three being

recovery operations with a duration of 45-56 days depending

on weather windows. This should result in about the same

number of days on the ground as previously conducted, but is

more efficient. We did conduct a ground operation in the

summer of 2017 in Hunan Province, and the Chinese delega-

tion supported our request to conduct missions in the future.

To assist in approval, DPAA will submit mission requests

via diplomatic notes. For next year, we plan to submit a

diplomatic note, to MFA, with three-four mission options,

with the intent being that MFA will review and provide feed-

back on which mission they can support. The Korean War

Project encompasses remains from the K-208, prior joint

recoveries in North Korea, and Punchbowl unknowns. This is

where all of our Korean War IDs are coming from and more

are in progress.

Accordion War: Korea 1951 Life and Death in a Marine Rifle Company

A personal narrative of

combat by Charles “Doc” Hughes. “Flags of Our Fathers’ came close but you nailed it.” Maxwell Baker FMF Corpsman, Vietnam/Korean War vet.

"Hughes. . . is a gifted writer. . . . This book is hard to put down. The writing is terrific. . . .”

Leatherneck, Magazine of the Marines

Available at Amazon & other on-line vendors.

Learn More: Read reviews & responses & order autographed

copies at www.dochughesbooks.com

Here is an update on contributions made to the Wall of

Remembrance (WOR) fund from miscellaneous sources.

Arden A. Rowley Chapter [AZ] The chapter made a $1,000.00 donation to the WOR fund in

November 2017.

SGM (ret.) James E. Bockman, 4035 E. Calypso Ave., Mesa, AZ 85206, 480-510-0770, [email protected]

Sales of “Atomic Cannons and Nuclear Weapons: A Mystery of the Korean War.”

As of July 24, 2018 we have raised $190.00 for

the WOR fund. That is based on 95 copies of the

book sold directly to readers. As you know the

author contributes $2 from the purchase price of

each book to the fund. (The book is also available at

amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.)

If you would like to enhance the WOR fund by

ordering a signed copy, send $22 to the author at:

Arthur G. Sharp, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center FL

33573

The $22 cost includes postage & handling and the donation to the

WOR fund.

Sales of “Joey, the Street Fox of Newark.” As of July 24, 2018 we have raised $12.00 for

the WOR fund. The author donates 10% of the pur-

chase price from each book ordered directly by

readers.

The book is the true story of a narcissistic, socio-

pathic, obsessive-compulsive, inveterate liar young

man from Newark, NJ who was born out of wed-

lock, sent to a foster home, retrieved (some would

say kidnapped) by his step-grandfather, sexually,

physically, and mentally abused by his alcoholic father until he resort-

ed to living on the streets of Newark alone when he was ten years old.

Then, because his street life interfered with his schooling, he was

mandated to a Catholic protectory by a sympathetic judge to complete

his schooling—where he was sexually abused by staff members.

When he reported the molestation he was asked to leave—and the

administrators kindly reported that fact to his local draft board just as

the Vietnam War was accelerating.

Despite all these obstacles he became a successful international

management consultant. Joey proved that if he could succeed anyone

can.

If you would like to enhance the WOR fund by ordering a signed

copy, send $16 to the author at:

Arthur G. Sharp, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center FL

33573.

The cost includes postage & handling and the donation to the

WOR fund.

Contributions to the Wall of Remembrance

16


Everett Clinger, of Kenton, OH, and a mem-

ber of Ch. 172, Hancock County, was featured in

an article in the July 15, 2017 Kenton Times, p. 1.

The article is reprinted below with the newspa-

per’s kind permission.

Thanks to Larry Monday, Ch. 172 Secretary, for bringing the article

to our attention. Reach him at 419-387-7532, MondayL9 @aol.com.

Contact Everett Clinger at 419-673-0451.

Kenton veteran shares experiences as flight engineer in Korean War By Dan Robinson Times Staff Writer

The first time Everett Clinger of Kenton rode in an airplane he swore it would be his last.

Clinger was at a county fair when he flew for the first time. “I got out and said I would never get in a plane again,” he recalled. It was a vow which didn’t last long. At the age of 22, Clinger joined the

Air Force to avoid being drafted for the Korean War and he served as a flight engineer for 29 missions over Korea.

“That was just the way things worked out. I loved to engineer,” he recalled.

In 1950, Clinger followed his brother into the Air Force and volunteered to be a flight engineer. He went for several months at the Lackland Air Force Base for basic training and then on to further training to become an engineer. Clinger was assigned to a flight crew of 11 airmen.

After receiving combat training the crew was sent to Korea to man one of the Flying Fortresses. Over the next seven months, Clinger and the crew flew their B-29 to drop bombs on military targets 29 times at altitudes of where the outside temperature fell to -58 degrees Fahrenheit.

Clinger said he loved his job as flight engineer. The engineer runs the engine. He starts it up when the crew is ready to

go and shuts it off at the end of the mission. The engineer is a very important

guy,” he said. With missions targeting dams, power plants and barracks, the crew nor-

mally found itself under fire from the North Koreans coming from ground artillery and fighter planes. Many of the B29s didn’t make it back from their missions, he said. Only about a third would return home to call themselves “B29 Statistic Survivors,” Clinger said. He is proud to be one of them.

Clinger recorded 664 hours in the B-29, which included 368 hours at night or over water.

“We did a lot of bombing,” recalled Clinger. “You got used to it (being shot at). It was rough over there … You’ve got to like to do the job. We vol-unteered to do it and that’s what we were expected to do. The flack was so heavy, there were times we didn’t think we would make it, but we did … After seven months, I was ready to come home, but I had another year and a half to go in the service.”

After returning to the States, Clinger received training with tanker planes. He wasn’t dropping bombs, but refueling planes in flight, said Clinger When Gen. Curtis LeMay sent three of B47s over the North Pole to

demonstrate the he nation’s capabilities, one of the planes lost an engine and Clinger played a pivotal part in making sure the aircraft was properly fueled so the crew made it back to their base.

“This mission was the first one to prove that the U.S. could take the atomic bomb any place in the world and return to our base;” said Clinger.

After four years in the Air Force, Clinger left the service to return to Ohio and help his family. He worked on the farm before taking a job in Kenton at Durez, where he would remain for 32 years.

The young man who had hated flying bought an airplane upon his return, but he didn’t talk to many people about his war experiences.

“I have never talked about this to anybody,” Clinger said. “It’s tough to ta1k about, but I can’t forget it. Even now it is tough to think about.”

But he often reflects on the veterans who didn’t return home from their missions, and, Clinger said, he also reflects on the people on the ground who were impacted by the bombs he dropped.

The worst mission, he said, involved bombing barracks which held 200 Chinese pilots. The bombs took the lives of 178 enemy airmen. That mis-sion still haunts him.

When he came home, his mother was relieved to see him return and told him something Clinger recalls today.

“My mom told me God was with me,” he recalled. “I am proud to have served my country and I thank God to have been able to return home safe and sound. I pray for those men and their families who weren’t so lucky. Those that served in the Korean ‘conflict’ know that it was a war to them and maybe someday it will be called what it was.”

Jim Scali, a member of Ch. 202, Orange County [NY], offered a

few remarks at the 2017 dinner honoring the commemoration of the

anniversary of the Korean War. It was held at the American Legion Post

151, Middletown New York. He noted:

“To the veterans, many of you are in your 80s. You look outstand-

ing. Sixty four years ago in the Village of Panmunjom, in a barren

room, the generals picked up their pens and signed their names to the

agreement before them. The Armistice ended the hostilities. However,

a peace treaty was never signed. Theoretically a state of war still exists

in that land.

“About the men who fought that war: listen and hear of their gal-

lantry. They were often outnumbered and outgunned in some of the

most brutal combat in modern history. Listen to how they held the line

Members in the

Everett Clinger (R) receives his first Air Medal, from Col. McDonald

17


at the Pusan Perimeter, how they landed at Inchon and turned the fate

of war, how, even though surrounded and freezing, they battled their

way out of the Chosen Reservoir, how they fought foxhole to foxhole,

mountain after mountain, day and night at the Punchbowl and Heart

Break Ridge, Old Baldy and .Pork Chop Hill.

“The only thing worse than the combat was the weather: the searing

heat of summer and the deep snow and bitter cold of winter with tem-

peratures 40 below zero, which would jam their weapons and turn their

food to ice.

“Let us not forget the POWs/MIAs, some 8,000 of whom never

came home. We will never rest until we have a complete accounting for

them. And, of course, we must honor the “Angels of Mercy,” our

women in the Nurse Corps who sacrificed along with the fighting men.

“To the veterans of the Korean War, Americans, Koreans, and

United Nation members of forces from other countries, most in the

spring of your youth, you learned how short and precious life could be.

“May God Bless those who gave their all, may God bless you and

your families, may God bless the alliances that secured peace and pros-

perity for the people of South Korea and showed communism that we

will not stand by and allow aggression of peace loving people.

And, of course, may God bless these United States of America.”

These are thoughts of Jim Scali, who served in Korea from

February 1967 to April 1968 with the 1/73rd Heavy Tank Battalion of

the 7th Infantry Division stationed at Camp Beaver.

Peace Talks and Revisit Program

Bernie Smith is a Director in Ch. 299, Korea Veterans of America

[MA]. I thought what he said in an article in the Concord [MA] Journal

about the Korean peace talks and the Revisit Program is worth publish-

ing in The Graybeards. I took selected excerpts from the original article

so it would fit our magazine.

Al McCarthy, [email protected] (Excerpts from an article by Rob Carter in the Concord [MA] Journal)

Korean War veteran and Concord, MA resident Bernard Smith is

hopeful about reports that the war he fought in 65 years ago may finally

be ending. “The Koreans I know are

for unification and are peace-loving

people,” Smith said. He was a mem-

ber of the Army Signal Corps, set-

ting up antennas on the tops of

mountains and hills for line-of-sight

transmissions. He was drafted into

the Army in 1951 and served for two

years in Korea before returning

home in May 1953.

Smith said he was given the

chance to return to Korea last

September as part of the Korea

Revisit Program. While in South

Korea, he asked many Koreans for their opinion on the peace talks

between the North and South. “They don’t distinguish between North

Korea and South Korea,” Smith said. “They’re just Koreans.”

Regardless of what happens in future peace talks, Smith said he was

grateful to have the opportunity to return to South Korea and to see how

Reunion Calendar: 2018

NOTE: Many people are submitting reunion notices barely a few days or weeks before the actual gatherings. Please allow at least four months—six or more is better—if you want your reunion notices print-ed in enough time to give potential attendees adequate notice to make plans, and in more than one issue.

SEPTEMBER 28th Inf. Div. Assn., Sept 5-8, Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. 140 Calder St., Building #8, Harrisburg, PA 17103, [email protected] 8th Cavalry Regiment/10th Infantry Division Basic Trainees, Sept. 7-9, Shawnee Mission, KS, The Drury Inn, 913-236-9200. Specifically Fort Riley Basic Training Companies HHC 1 Bn 85th Inf and Item Company 87th Inf Rgt Dec ‘53-Jan ‘54; George Company 86th Inf Rgt Feb-Apr ‘54; 8th Cav Rgt May ‘54-Nov ‘56 of Camp Crawford, Hokkaido and Camp Whittington, Honshu, Japan. Steve Bosma 7109 Via Portada, San Jose, CA 95135, 408-270-1319 or Jack Hackley, P.O. Box 40 Oak Grove, MO, 64075-8198, 816-690-3443, [email protected] 630th Engineers (Korea), Sept. 9-12, Branson, MO, Branson’s Best Motel, 800-335-2555. Gerald Clemons, 356-757-2090 or 356-577-4317 (cell) or Charry Viehland, 417-247-9772. 84th & 62nd ECB (Korea), Sept. 10-13, Nashville, TN. Victor Swanson, 1602 SE 107 Ave., Portland, OR 97216, 541 914 8583, vicswanson @comcast.net 1st Bn. 3rd Regt., 3rd Marine Division (All Eras), Sept. 11-16, Colorado Springs, CO. Don Bumgarner, 562-897-2437, dbumc13usmc@ veri-zon.net USS Charles P. Cecil (DD/DDR-835) Assn., Sept. 16-22, Buffalo, NY. Greg Wells, 405-365-1926, [email protected] 44th Engineers (Broken Heart) Bn., Sept 19-22, St. Roberts, MO (Fort Leonard Wood, MO), Hampton Inn, 573-336-3355. Ken Cox 314-346-5818, [email protected] or Rex Hurd, 816-688-7470, rhurd55@yahoo USS Hornet (CV-8, CV, CVA, CVS-12) Assn. Sept. 19-23, Mobile, AL, Mobile Marriott. All ship’s officers, air groups, crew, Marines and families welcomed. Sandy Burket, Secretary, PO Box 108, Roaring Spring, PA 16673, (814) 224-5063, cell (814) 312-4976, [email protected]; website: http://www.usshornetassn.com/; USS Hornet Museum: http://www.uss-hornet.org/ 24th Inf. Div. Assn., Sept. 20-23, Branson, MO. George Vlasic, 910-287-5618, [email protected] USS New Jersey, Sept. 26-29, Metairie LA, Comfort Inn and Copeland Tower Suites. Steve Sheehan, 215-887-7583, www.ussnewjerseyveter-ans.org 13th Engineer Combat Bn. Assn., Sept. 27-29, Branson, MO, Grand Plaza Hotel. Billy D. Quinton Sr., 727-323-1144, [email protected], http://13thengineerbn.com USS Rochester (CA-124), Sept. 27-Oct. 1, Kansas City, MO. Joe Hill, 931-432-4848, [email protected]

OCTOBER 25th Inf. Div. Assn., Oct. 8-13, Providence, RI. Sarah Krause, PO Box 7, Flourtown, PA 19031, [email protected] or www.25thida.org Korean War Historical Seminar, Oct. 17-21, 3d Inf. Div. Assn., Apr. 18-21, Springfield, VA, Hilton Springfield Hotel. Tim/Monica Stoy, [email protected] KWVA, Orlando, FL, Oct. 17-21. Details on p. 31.

Mail your info to Reunion Editor, The Graybeards, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center, FL 33573-7141 or email it to sharp_arthur_g @sbcglob-al.net. Include Unit, Date(s), Place, and Contact’s name, address, phone #, email address. Entries are posted “first come, first served.” The Graybeards is not responsible for the accuracy of the information pub-lished. NOTE: Submissions may be edited for space considerations.

Please turn to MIN on page 71

Bernard Smith

The cost of China’s intervention in the Korean War China paid a price for entering the Korean War. It lost Taiwan

and membership in the world community vis-à-vis the UN, and

incurred distrust from western countries.

18


Part 2 By William O. Brennen

I positioned myself so I could see to the rear through the observa-

tion bubble in the ceiling of the aircraft. I could see heavy tracer

fire crisscrossing behind us. At first I thought it was the Chinese

on one side shooting at us, and Marines on the other side shooting at

the Chinese to suppress their fire. Then it dawned on me that there

were no Marines out where we were, only Chinese. We were not hit,

but it looked to me like the Chinese on either side of us could have

sustained some casualties from “friendly fire.”

The firing was very heavy, and continued for a short period after

we were clear of the ridges. Communication between the Chinese

units was primitive, and I’ve always hoped we had started a fire-fight

between two Chinese units.

785 was not equipped to transport stretchers, although we did on

occasion, so most of the wounded we evacuated were ambulatory.

One vivid memory I have of the first loads of wounded we flew out

involves some of the young Army personnel who had survived the

Chinese ambush on the east side of the reservoir. Many of them were

fresh off of the ice of the reservoir. One was actually sobbing, and

most appeared dazed and in various stages of shock. They had the

look of someone who had just returned from a preview of hell, and I

couldn’t understand it, as I had seen no Marines in this condition.

Many years later I read the accounts of their battle on the east side of

the reservoir, and I was finally able to understand. They actually had

returned from Hell!

From 3 December through 5 December we made 12 more cargo

delivery and medical evacuation flights from the small air strip at

Hagaru-ri. We also made another para-supply drop on 3 December.

I’m not sure what unit received the supply drop.

Prior to the drop the Corsairs made ground fire suppression runs

to discourage the Chinese from shooting at us. Ground fire was rela-

tively light during our runs over the drop zone, but it was still an

uncomfortable feeling being in an unarmed cargo aircraft, making

repeated passes over enemy positions, while flying low and slow on

a straight course.

On one air evacuation flight we had a very close call. We were

making a turn on our final approach just prior to landing at Hagaru-

ri. We were a bit nose heavy, so Lt. Carter had me drag a pile of tire

chains to the rear of the plane and sit on then. We were reducing air

speed with our wheels and flaps down as we passed over a high ridge,

when we took two air bursts directly under our tail from a light anti-

aircraft weapon.

I felt two sharp jolts through my pile of chains, and we all heard

the explosions. The pilot of our sister aircraft, 436, observed the

bursts under our tail. Lt. Carter pulled up the gear and flaps and

poured on the power. We dove over the air strip under full power, then

climbed to join 436 orbiting above. Soon 3 Navy Sky-Raider fight-

er/bombers flew up the face of the ridge in close proximity. Each

plane released two napalm tanks, and the face of the ridge erupted in

flames. We received no more fire from that Chinese position.

The crew of 785 was no stranger to ground fire from Chinese

small arms, as every Marine position we flew over was surrounded

by Chinese forces, including Hagaru-ri, but it was unusual to receive

fire from an air burst weapon, at least in our experience. The

American force that the Chinese overran east of the reservoir a few

days earlier had anti-aircraft weapons, and I suspect this was one of

our own weapons the Chinese had turned against us. Upon landing,

a close inspection of the aircraft revealed only minor flack damage,

much to our relief.

On another evacuation flight, we were orbiting above Hagaru-ri,

waiting for an Air Force C47 to take off before we could land. We

observed the Air Force plane crash-land just after taking off, several

hundred yards beyond the end of the airstrip.

It did not catch fire, and the occupants got out

of the plane and straggled back toward the

airstrip. They were in Chinese territory, but the

Chinese made no effort to intervene that I

could observe.

After we had landed, off loaded, and were

taking wounded aboard, a small group of beat-

up looking Marines hobbled up to M/Sgt.

Hart, and the senior NCO stated, “We’ve been

surrounded up here for days. We’re half

frozen. We’ve all been wounded, and we just

survived an airplane crash. For the glory of

God and the Marine corps, get us out of here!”

We accommodated them.

Angels or Gooney Birds?

Marine 50785 at Hagaru emergency air strip, Chosin Reservoir, Dec. 1950; figure in leather flight jacket is probably Pilot 1/Lt. B. Carter

19


In early 1998 I saw an article in the Travis Air Museum News by

Walter Kane, USAF, retired, titled “Last Flight to Hagaru-ri.” Mr.

Kane was the engineer aboard the plane I saw crash, and his article

described the incident I had witnessed. In his story, Mr. Kane stated

that after making it back to the air strip following the crash, they

boarded another C-47 for the flight out, preferring it to a Marine

transport that had 20 or 30 bullet holes in its fuselage. I’m convinced

the Marine plane he referred to was 785. Mr. Kane lived close by. I

contacted him, and we had several enjoyable visits, reminiscing about

our mutual experience 50 years earlier in Korea.

I also recall a Marine R4D that had crash-landed on the Hagaru-ri

airstrip. It was off to one side of the strip on its belly. I salvaged the

radio gear from it, and we flew in one of our mechanics, Cpl. Jack

Allen, to salvage any other gear that might be usable on our two air-

craft. The plane was intact when I last saw it, but it was burned when

the last American troops left for Koto-ri.

After I returned to the States in 1951, I saw a picture of the plane

burning on the Hagaru-ri airstrip, in an issue of Leatherneck maga-

zine. I cut out the picture and still have it. In the photo, the Marine

decal is still visible on the nose of the burning plane.

On March 19, 2000. I was viewing a web site on Kunsan Air Base,

Korea. I read an article that listed Paul Noel as the pilot of a Marine

R4D transport aircraft that had crash landed on the airstrip at Hagaru-

ri during the Chosin Reservoir operation. His e-mail address was

included. I immediately e-mailed him and asked him to verify that he

was the pilot of the aircraft that I had removed the radio gear from in

1950. He replied that he was.

He advised he was a captain in 1st Marine Air Wing Headquarters

at the time. They had been advised that a rough emergency airstrip

had been scraped out at Hagaru-ri, and that the Marines trapped there

were in desperate need of ammunition and evacuation of their

wounded. There was no other pilot readily available, the mission was

urgent, and it was late in the day, so Capt. Noel went with the crew

chief, T/Sgt. Dave Schwitzer, performing co-pilot duties.

They, along with a third crewman, Sgt. Keith Macleod, left Yonpo

Air Field with a heavy load of artillery ammo on board. When they

made a hard landing at Hagaru-ri, the load shifted, unbalancing the

aircraft, resulting in a propeller digging into an up slope of the rough,

undulated surface. This caused the plane to skew off to one side, col-

lapsing the landing gear. Artillery ammo filled the front cabin of the

aircraft to the depth of the throttle levers, bending in the cabin bulk-

head, and nearly trapping the third crew member.

The aircraft did not catch fire, and all hands were able to evacuate

safely through the emergency exit. They sustained no serious injuries.

An infantryman, who Capt. Noel thought looked like an apparition

due to his dirty, bearded face, long parka, and heavy winter clothing,

came running up to the aircraft to see if they were injured. When he

discovered all were OK, he asked if he could have the aircraft’s clock.

Capt. Noel told him he could have the whole damn aircraft, as far as

he was concerned.

There were a couple of USAF C47s at the strip, and Capt. Noel

was able to hitch rides out for his crewmen and himself. As was the

case with Walter Kane and his fellow crewmen, it was their first and

last trip to Hagaru-ri.

Capt. Noel (now Col. Noel, USMC, retired) provided me three

great photos of the wrecked aircraft, one of which is the same photo

FAR LEFT Hagaru-ri air strip, Chosin Reservoir, No. Korea, Dec. 1950

LEFT: USAF C-47 being off-loaded at Chosin Reservoir, No. Korea, Dec. 1950. Dead shrouded in sleeping bags, lower left, awaiting evacuation.

LEFT: Chosin Reservoir, 6 Dec. 1950. Marine 50767 in background.

BELOW: Marine 50767 crash landed 2 Dec. 1950 at Chosin Reservoir No. Korea. Crew: Pilot Capt. Paul Noel. Crew: T/Sgt D. Schwitzer, Sgt. K. MacLeod. Crew escaped unharmed. Plane destroyed 6 Dec. 1950.

20


I cut out of Leatherneck magazine in 1951. I can also

recall having a bird’s eye view of the columns of the 5th

and 7th Marines approaching Hagaru-ri after they fought

their way out of the Chinese trap at Yudam-ni, and the

show put on by the Corsairs and Sky Raiders as they

strafed, bombed, and rocketed the various communist

positions. I was proud to be wearing the same uniform that

those brave men wore.

During the eight days between 28 November and 5

December 1950, 785 made three para-supply drops to

Marine units that were cut off and surrounded, and seven-

teen resupply and casualty evacuation flights from the

small airstrip at Hagaru-ri. M/Sgt. Hart recorded 39 bullet holes in the

aircraft, compliments of the Chinese Army. 785 delivered 25-30 tons

of badly needed supplies, and evacuated between 350 and 450

wounded Marines and Soldiers. I still have my flight log book docu-

menting those flights.

Between 1 December and 3 December, 436, our sister aircraft,

made 7 resupply and casualty evacuation flights from Hagaru-ri,

delivering roughly 14 tons of supplies, and evacuating approximately

175 casualties. Then 436 was taken out of service for major repairs.

On 9 December, the crew of 436 manned 785, and made two evacu-

ation flights from Koto-ri, bringing out an additional 50 to 60 wound-

ed troops.

Crew members T/Sgt. Jim Morris and Cpl. Ed Farra told me that

Chinese troops were entrenched within 200 yards of the air strip at

Koto-ri, their positions clearly visible. They did not fire on the trans-

port planes because of strong Marine defensive forces opposing

them. The two sides remained at a standoff.

On one of the flights from Koto-ri, 785 brought out Marguerite

Higgins, a correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune. Miss

Higgins was the only female war correspondent in Korea at that time,

and she was the most famous correspondent of the Korean War. In

1951 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her work in Korea. She

also was the author of a very interesting book entitled, “War in

Korea.”

The responsibility for the air evacuation and resupply of Hagaru-

ri and Koto-ri was assigned to the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron of the

U.S. Air Force. The Marine aircraft involved in the operation were

temporarily assigned to that unit. According to an article in the

January 1951 issue of Airlift Times, 7 Air Force C47s and 4 Marine

R4Ds were involved in the operation. Another Air Force source

states, “11 aircraft, assisted by others on a time to time basis,” were

involved in the evacuation.

Records provided me by Colonel Noel document that six Marine

R4D transports were involved in the Chosin Reservoir operation,

including the one that crashed. They were, 12436, 17105, 17275,

17267, 50767, & 50785. I obtained official records from

Headquarters, USMC, identifying the command pilots of the 6 air-

craft, and the number of evacuation missions each flew. They were,

Capt. Paul Noel, 1, T/Sgt. Wallace Mickelson, 8, M/Sgt. Robert

Brown, 9, M/Sgt. Lawrence Laugen, 11, Capt. Henry Menzies, 12,

and 1st Lt. Bobby Carter, 17.

In one of the most famous books on the Chosin Reservoir cam-

paign, “Chosin,” by Eric Hammel, the author states on page 299,

“Only two transport aircraft were lost of the hundreds involved in

carrying supplies to and the wounded from Hagaru-ri.” It may have

seemed “hundreds” of transports were involved, but the truth is, in 9

days of hectic flying, 11 planes of the U.S.A.F. 21st Troop Carrier

Squadron, 6 planes from the 1st Marine Air Wing, plus a few “mis-

cellaneous” that were pressed into service, delivered over 273 tons of

supplies, and evacuated 4,690 wounded troops from the two primi-

tive air strips at the Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri.

The pilots of Marine Observation Squadron 6 (VMO-6), managed

to “scrounge” a couple of Navy TBM torpedo bombers. They could

squeeze 8 or 9 wounded inside, and they used them to evacuate

wounded before the air strips were lengthened enough to accommo-

date the larger R4Ds. Maximum use was also made of their helicop-

ters and OY light observation planes. One of their TBMs crashed at

Hagaru-ri, but I don’t know the circumstances or the fate of the crew.

A U.S. Navy R5D (C-54) made one successful landing and take-

off from the strip at Hagaru-ri. The crew was all enlisted. It was the

only four-engine aircraft that landed there.

Several U.S.A.F. C-119 cargo planes made para-supply drops to

Hagaru-ri delivering additional supplies, but they were too large to

land and evacuate wounded. Even though two transport aircraft were

lost during the operation, none of the crashes resulted in a fatality.

All of the wounded were delivered safely to Yonpo Air Field for

relay to a nearby hospital ship, or for airlift to hospitals in Japan

by larger aircraft.

When the 1st Marine Division and the accompanying Army

units left Hagaru-ri, and later Koto-ri, they were adequately

resupplied, and they were not encumbered by wounded. They

were able to devote all of their resources to breaking through the

Chinese Communist armies that tried to block their withdrawal

to the sea.

S/Sgt. Allison was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds.

The pilots and crewmen of 785 and 436 were awarded individual

citations for their contribution to the success of the battle, as were

USAF C-47 crashed and burned on a low-level para-drop to units of the army 7th Division east of Hyesanjin, N. Korea, 21 Nov. 1950, killing all 7 crewmen

Marine 50767, crash landed 2 Dec. 1950; destroyed 6 Dec. 1950; Pilot Capt. Paul Noel. Crew: T/Sgt D. Schwitzer, Sgt. K. MacLeod

21


the crews of the Air Force planes. The 21st

Troop Carries Squadron, USAF was award-

ed the Air Force Distinguished Unit Citation.

According to Col. Paul Fritz, USAF retired,

who was a Captain, and a C47 pilot for the

21st T.C.S. at Chosin, that was the first

D.U.C. awarded by the Air Force since its

creation in 1947. The D.U.C. was later

upgraded to a Presidential Unit Citation. As

temporary members of that unit, the Marine

airmen involved were also awarded the cita-

tion. Both services flew the same aircraft, the

Douglas DC3. The Marine designation was

R4D and the Air Force was C47.

None of us “Airedales,” other than those

in the forward air control teams, suffered the

hardships of those on the ground, at least that

I’m aware of. Our water and rations in the

aircraft froze, too, but we always had a place

to sleep at night out of the elements, and rel-

atively out of danger. The mess hall at Yonpo

airfield served good chow whenever we

were able to be there to enjoy it.

The ground crews worked long hours

under miserable conditions on the wind-

swept, snow-covered airfields at Yonpo and

Wonson, and on the ice-encrusted flight

decks of the aircraft carriers at sea to keep the

fighter/bombers and transports in the air. All

of us had but one objective: to do the best job

possible at whatever task we were assigned,

in order to get our brothers back out of those

mountains.

I don’t know of a man who would not

have willingly laid down his wrench or

screw driver, picked up his M1 rifle, and

headed up the road to Koto-ri if he had been

asked to. In fact one of our mechanics did

just that. He obtained permission for us to fly

him into Hagaru-ri, where he spent the night

on the perimeter with his brother, who was

assigned to an infantry unit there. We flew

him out the next day.

I know that 785, her sister aircraft, and the

ground crews that kept them in the air, were

most certainly a deciding factor in the suc-

cess of the “attack to the rear.” I also suspect

that all of the wounded troops evacuated by

the C47s and R4Ds, if given the chance,

would vote to change the nickname of those

aircraft from “Gooney Bird” to “Angel.”

William O. Brennen (Service # 669883, U.S.M.C. 7/8/48-7/7152, U.S.M.C.R., 3/27/53-3/26/57), 40 Holly Ave., Larkspur, CA 94939, 415-927-0393, [email protected]

This is one of a continuing series. It can

only continue if members contribute their

stories. Please send your “Humor in Korea”

submissions to Arthur G. Sharp, 2473 New

Haven Circle, Sun City, FL 33573. We can all

use a laugh once in a while, just as the troops

in Korea did.

Humor in KoreaHumor in Korea

It isn’t New Year’ Eve It was the evening of December 30, 1952.

As a fighter-bomber pilot of the 35th Fighter

Bomber Squadron at K-13, Suwan, I was sit-

ting at a makeshift desk in my hut, writing a

letter home. Suddenly, I heard air raid sirens

and the lights in the hut went out.

I thought, “Nuts. It’s just a practice drill.”

So, I lit a candle and continued writing.

However, just moments later, I was startled

by the sound of anti-aircraft guns and tracers

flying into the air. I blew out the candle,

grabbed my steel helmet, and went outside to

the trench about twenty yards from my hut.

There were several of us there, and we

watched as the anti-aircraft fire continued.

We also detected the sound of a propeller

aircraft. It was definitely not one of our

planes. It sounded more like the engine of the

Steerman type biplane used by the North

Koreans that we called “Bedcheck Charlie.”

A minute or two after I got into the trench,

we saw one of our squadron mates ambling

toward the trench with his hard hat in his

hand. As he got close, we heard him say

“This is quite a New Year’s Eve celebration

the ack-ack guys are putting on for us.”

He was a big guy, almost too big to fit in

the cockpit of an F-80. So, I’m pretty sure we

called him Buffalo. As he ambled toward the

trench, I said, “Buffalo, December has 31

days in it. This is not New Year’s Eve.”

I never saw a big man move so fast. He

muttered an exclamation, slammed his hel-

met on his head, and literally dove over the

sandbag wall of the trench, landing in a heap

at the bottom.

Despite the seriousness of the situation we

had to laugh. Incidentally, “Bedcheck

Charlie” didn’t drop anything that night, nor

was he hit by the several thousand rounds

fired in his direction.

Lt.Col. Alfred J. D’Amario, USAF (Ret.), [email protected]

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Editor’s office hours

Editor Sharp’s office hours, such as they are, are 9 a.m. to 5

p.m. EST, Monday-Friday. He is not an employee of the

KWVA, so his hours vary.

22


By Tom Moore

The Wonsan Blockade by the UN

navies from February 16, 1951

until July 27, 1953 (861 days)

was the longest naval blockade in mod-

ern history. The port city of Wonsan,

with a population of 75,000 people, was

a petroleum refinery area for North

Korea and a station for around 80,000

enemy troops. With many artillery bat-

teries and an airfield, it was also a port

for sampans that laid Russian M-26

mines.

U. S. Navy and Marine aircraft

returning from raids in Korea to their

TF-77 aircraft carriers in the Sea of

Japan often ditched in the sea because of

battle damage or low fuel. Too many

pilots and aircraft were being lost or

frozen to death—most of them in the

300-mile harbor of Wonsan, North

Korea.

The harbor was replete with islands,

some unoccupied, and some occupied by

the enemy with artillery batteries. The

U.S. Marines had established a small

garrison on Yo Do Island in Wonsan

Harbor, some four and a half miles off-

shore from Wonsan. It was an ideal place

for U.S. Navy Construction Battalion

(CB) units to practice their skills.

When the Korean War began on 25

June 1950, the “Seabees” called on their

reserves and expanded their active-duty

force from 4,000 to more than 14,000

men. The Seabees reached Wonsan a

month after the September 15th UN

landing at Inchon. ACB-1 moved to the

east coast of Korea and supported the 1st

Marine Division. This time they landed

at Wonsan—after floating around for

days on troop ships in Operation Yo

Yo—as enemy mines were removed

from Wonsan Harbor as part of the 1st

Marine Division’s shift from the Inchon-

Seoul area to the northeast coast of

Korea.

While the U.S. Marines moved north

to positions in the Chosin Reservoir

area, many of the Seabees built piers to

unload X Corps’ supplies and to unload

UN ships. But UN planes kept ditching

in Wonsan harbor. In 1951, after watch-

ing that happen too often for his taste, Lt.

Col. Richard G. Warga, commander of

the U.S. Marine Garrison on Yo Do

Island, and his naval liaison, Lt. James S.

Lampe, Jr., reasoned that the approach-

ing winter would make survival diffi-

cult. So they recommended that the U.S.

Navy build an emergency air strip on the

island, where aircraft could be repaired

and/or refueled and return to their

respective carriers. They believed the air

strip would give pilots peace of mind—

and save some UN lives and equipment.

The 7th Fleet Commander, Vice

Admiral Robert P. Brisco, reviewed the

request. Some personnel at comfortable

desks in Washington D. C. were con-

cerned about how the North Koreans

would react to construction of an air strip

in their midst. Admiral Brisco said, “To

hell with the North Koreans. If this air

strip can save UN lives and aircraft, let’s

do it.” (No wonder the air strip was

named Brisco Field for the admiral with

grit.)

On June 6, 1952, the Seabees initiated

“Operation Crippled Chick,” the code

name for the emergency air strip on Yo

Do Island. The assignment to build it fell

to ACB-1’s Detachment George, led by

Lt. T.E. Rowe. Detachment George com-

prised one Warrant Machinist, six Chief

Petty Officers (the guys who run the

Seabees), and 69 Seabee builder/sailors.

They arrived with their equipment on

USS LST-692. The first thing they did was drop pon-

toon causeway sections into the water.

To anchor them properly on the beach,

the Seabees pushed the causeways onto

the beach with the bow of the flat-bot-

tomed LST-692. That allowed them to

off-load supplies, parts for a radio sta-

tion for ships, aircraft, aviation fuel,

ammo, food, etc. They drew up a plan

for a 120-foot by 2,400-foot air strip to

be operational in 45 days. Not surpris-

ingly, the North Koreans took exception

to their presence.

The Seabees filled in and leveled rice

paddies on the island, the only possible

location for an approximate south-west

to north-east axis. The Seabees worked

sixteen-hour days, while receiving bar-

rages from North Korean batteries on the

mainland and enemy-held islands in the

harbor. After the North Koreans shelled

Yo Do Island, the CBs filled the shell

holes on the air strip while U. S. Navy

ships in the harbor spotted the enemy

shore batteries and opened fire on

them. One ship in particular that helped

the CBs was the heavy cruiser USS Helena (CA-75).

The CBs saw they could widen the air

strip to 200 feet, and did so. There was a

rocky ridge at the NE end of the air

strip. The CBs put wheels on their air

compressor, which they used to drive

their rock drills in the rocky ridge. It

took four hours to drill to a depth of 18

inches in order to reach an adequate

depth for blasting. They used all their

TNT, and the D-7 Caterpillar bulldozers

did the rest to reduce the height of the

ridge.

On July 10th they wanted to see if the

strip was solid enough to support mili-

tary aircraft. A C-47 aircraft landed,

using only three-fourths of the strip, and

cleared the field at the 1,200-foot mark

when it took off. The CBs hauled avia-

tion fuel and oil from the beach to the

fuel dump they located by the

runway. They worked as they watched

C-47s land and take off on the 12th,

13th, and 14th. The air strip stayed solid

to support loaded aircraft. Then, on July

15, 1952, seven U.S. Navy Corsair air-

craft made the first emergency landings

on the air strip. On the 16th the Corsairs

flew off to TF-77 and the USS Princeton

(CVA-37).

Air strip Brisco: an oasis under the enemy’s noses

U. S. Navy and Marine aircraft returning from raids in Korea to their TF-77 aircraft carriers in the Sea of Japan often ditched in the sea because of battle damage or low fuel.

Please turn to BRISCO on page 30

23


Registration Form KWVA 2017 Annual Membership Meeting October 17 – 21, 2018

Sheraton Orlando North Hotel, 600 North Lake Destiny Road, Maitland, FL 32751

Print this registration form, fill in and mail it with your check or Money Order made payable to KWVA Inc. to: The Korean War Veterans Assn., Inc. - P.O. Box 407 - Charleston, IL 61920-0407

Questions? Call Sheila at the KWVA Membership Office: 217-345-4414

Note: To secure your place at the annual meeting, mail-in registration is due by Oct 5, 2018. Any Registrations mailed after Oct 1, might not be received in time. Walk-in Registrations will be accepted during the convention, but we cannot guarantee availability at Events, Tours or Banquet if capacity is reached. Date Activity Cost/person # people Total Wed 17 Oct Arrival – Registration opens at 10 AM

All Attendees (Members, Spouses and Guests) Must Pay Registration Fee Registration/Information Desk ~ 10:00 am until 5:00 pm Hospitality Room ~ 12:00 pm until 5:00 pm

All Attendees: $30.00/each

x

= $

Wed 17 Oct Board of Directors Meeting ~ 9:00 am until 2:00 pm Wed 17 Oct Welcome Reception ~ 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thr 18 Oct Annual Membership Meeting ~ 9:00 am until 11:30 am

Registration/Information Desk ~ 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Hospitality Room ~ 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm

Thr 18 Oct Veterans Interviews ~ 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thr 18 Oct Tour – Winter Park Tour ~ 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm $20.00 x = $ Fri 19 Oct Veterans Interviews ~ 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm

Registration/Information Desk ~ 12:00 pm until 5:00 pm Hospitality Room ~ 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm

Fri 19 Oct Tour – Alligators and Wildlife Adventure Tour ~9:00 am until 2:00 pm Lunch ON YOUR OWN at Theme Park (not included in price) ~ 11:00 am until 12:30 pm Return to Hotel ~ 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm

$105.00

x

= $

Sat 20 Oct Memorial Service & Buffet Breakfast ~ 7:30 am – 8:30 am Registration/Information Desk ~ 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm Hospitality Room ~ 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm

$20.00

x

= $

Sat 20 Oct Tour – Kennedy Space Center ~ 9:30 am until 4:30 pm (Lunch with Astronauts Included in Tour price)

$60.00

x

= $

Sat 20 Oct Reception ~ 6:00 pm until 6:45 pm Sat 20 Oct KWVA Banquet ~ 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm Chicken: $30.00

Beef: $30.00 x x

= $ = $

Total $ _________ Please print your name as you want it on your badge.

FIRST__________________LAST________________________________NICKNAME___________

KWVA MEMBER # _________________________CHAPTER #__________________

SPOUSE/GUEST NAME(S)__________________________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS________________________________________________________________

CITY, ST, ZIP_____________________________________________________________________

PH. #___________________________EMAIL___________________________________________

Disability/Dietary Restrictions:________________________________________________________ There will be a $25 charge for returned checks. No Cancellations/refund requests will be accepted after Oct. 10. (Note: Hotel reservations or cancellations are to be made direct with the hotel.) (Rev 1 – 7/18/2018)

KWVA 2018 Annual Membership Meeting: October 17 - 21, 2018

24


KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION REUNION

October 17 - 20, 2018 Sheraton Orlando North Hotel

600 North Lake Destiny Road. Maitland, FL 32751

Wednesday, October 17 Starts Ends Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cost . . . . . . . . .Location 9:00a – 2:00p KWVA Board of Directors Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 10:00a – 5:00p Registration Desk Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 12:00p – 5:00p Hospitality Room Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 5:00p – 6:00p Dinner (On your own) 6:00p – 8:00p Welcome Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel

Thursday, October 18 8:00a – 5:00p Registration Desk Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 8:00a 9:00a Preparation for Annual Membership Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 9:00a – 11:30a KWVA Annual Membership Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 12:00p – 8:00p Hospitality Room Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 12:00p – 8:00p Veterans Interviews (Dr. Jongwoo Han) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 1:00p – 4:00p Winter Park Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20.00 . . . . . . .Tour 5:00p – – Dinner (On your own)

Friday, October 19 9:00a – 2:00p Alligators and Wildlife Adventure Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$105.00 . . . . . .Tour Note: Lunch ON YOUR OWN from 11:00a – 12:30p at the Theme Park – NOT included in Tour price 2:00p – 3:00p Return to the Sheraton Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 12:00p – 8:00p Veterans Interviews (Dr. Jongwoo Han) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 12:00p – 5:00p Registration Desk Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 1:00p – 8:00p Hospitality Room Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 5:00p – – Dinner (On your own)

Saturday, October 20 7:30a – 8:30a Memorial Service & Buffet Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20.00 . . . . . . .Hotel 9:30a – 4:30p Tour – Kennedy Space Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$60.00 . . . . . . .Tour (Lunch with Astronauts included in Tour price)

4:30p – 5:00p Return to the Sheraton Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 1:00p – 3:00p Registration Desk Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 1:00p – 5:00p Hospitality Room Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 6:00p – 6:45p Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hotel 7:00p – 9:30p KWVA Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30.00 . . . . . .Hotel

Sunday, October 21 – – – Leave for Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Rev 1 – 7/18/2018)

25


Tours

Alligators and Wildlife Adventure Tour Jump on board this exciting Airboat adventure that takes gyests everywhere except the “beaten path.” With the wind at their back, guests skim across the water experiencing some of the best natural views in Florida! This tour includes a one hour airboat ride, a gator handling demonstration, admission to the Wildlife Park, and an exclusive Lakeside Florida Style BBQ Lunch. This tour can also be offered with or without lunch.

Go For Launch At Kennedy Space Center Experience a tour that is “Out of this World”! Guests begin their day with a private Explore Tour visiting the NASA Causeway and the Apollo / Saturn Center. Later guest can go to the Visitor’s Complex where they can explore the Rocket Garden, NASA Space Shuttle replicas, and their newest attractions, Space Shuttle Atlantis� and Space Shuttle Experience. Then, guests enjoy a lunch accompa-nied by a NASA astronaut who does a presentation, then holds a question/answer period to answer any questions they may have about the space program. Experience Includes admission to Kennedy Space Center, non-private lunch with an astronaut, and time in the park. 6 Hours

KWVA members in Massachusetts were invited to attend the

fifth annual “Bridging Generations with Heroes of the Korean

War.” The event is sponsored by Dr. Jay Jinseop Jang, Managing

Director of Educational Divide Reform (EDR) in Boston, and Dr.

Sheldon Berman, Superintendent of the Andover Public School

System.

Each year upwards of twenty South Korean middle school

children participate in an exchange program and stay with fami-

lies in the Andover area. They attend regular classes with

American students, and go on sight-seeing and recreational trips

on weekends with host families to learn more about the language

and culture of America.

Before returning to South Korea, the students take time out of

their hectic schedules to honor veterans and thank them for the

freedom they enjoy in Korea. The students prepare presentations

in English highlighting Korea’s history and culture, language and

food, as well as perform on stage. Veterans are also treated to a

karate demonstration by Grand Master Shin’s Demonstration

Team. Then, veterans, host families, teachers, and the public

adjourn to the school cafeteria for a dinner of Korean and

American food.

At the end of the evening, each veteran is given a booklet con-

taining a personal letter from each of the students expressing

their gratitude for the freedoms and opportunities they enjoy

because of the veterans’ sacrifice.

Albert McCarthy, [email protected]

26


Bridging Generations with He

27


Heroes of the Korean WarKorean school children perform to highlight Korean history and culture


28

The Where, When, and Why of the Korean War

Tell AmericaOn April 27, 2018, our Tell

America team talked to ROTC cadets at the University of Hawaii, Manoa main campus. The Officer-in-Charge, Brett Mckenzie, and twenty cadets

were very appreciative of this first time visit to a university campus. Some of the cadets had served in the military and asked good questions. [email protected]

Buddy Epstein is a one-man PR Tell America team. He vis-

its local schools and presents a history lesson and his experience in Korea. Recently he visited Chaminade High School in

Mineola, NY with Jong Song, Weber Middle School, in Port Washington, NY, and Oceanside High School. Robert P. O’Brien, 408 Fifth Ave.,

Cedarhurst, NY 11516

20 – HAWAII #1 [HI]

24 – CHARLES PARLIER [IL]

On May 14, 2018, our team made a presentation at

Maroa-Forsyth High School, Maroa, IL, to an assembly com-prising 2 teachers and 147 stu-dents.

William Hanes,williamhanes

@att.net NOTE: In the May-June 2018 issue we misidentified Ch. 24, Charles Parlier, IL, as Ch. 4. We apologize for the typo.

Ch. 20 Tell America team members: Lucio Sanco, James “Ace” Kaleohano, Sam Belen and Moses Pakaki with Major McKenzie (L-R)

Below: Wayne Semple of Ch. 24 speaks to students at Maroa-Forsyth High School

55 – NASSAU COUNTY #1 [NY]

Ch. 24 presenter Orval Mechling at Maroa-Forsyth High School

David Freyling of Ch. 24 at Maroa-Forsyth High School

Jong Song and Buddy Epstein of Ch. 55 at Chaminade High School

What China gained from the Korean War There were several benefits to China for entering the Korean

War. For example, it gave credibility to the Chinese Communist

Party, solidified the country’s political leadership, molded and

shaped its relations with the Soviets for the next decade, and

solidified and secured an alliance with North Korea.


29

Members made a Tell America visit to the Gainesville, High

School Junior Navy ROTC Cadet Corps, commanded by Major Dennis Wait, USMC, assisted by HM1 Kimberly Mullins, USN, on May 17, 2018. We spoke to 5 classes, over 100 students, and were very well received, especial-ly with the heightened interest in the summit talks with North Korea that took place on June 12, 2018, the possibility of finally signing a Peace Treaty after all these years, and the hopeful return of our 7,800 POW/MIA remains from the north. We showed a new video from Prager University, narrated by Victor Davis Hansen, called “Why did America Fight the Korean War?” This is much more modern than our traditional video, “Freedom is not Free,” but we show this also when time allows. We had 4 presenters: event coor-dinator Norm Tankersley, Terry Fitzpatrick, Ron Carbaugh, and Don Sherry. We covered the causes of the war and the positive

results from it, such as the deseg-regation of the troops, the devel-opment of the jet engine and air-lines industry, the helicopter industry, etc. We had a question and answer session for each class and handed out several handouts about the Korean War. Each presenter told about his service during the Korean War and passed around various items from the war, such as dog tags, a radiation dosimeter, “safe con-duct” passes from our side and from the enemy, etc. We also reviewed the phases of the war on our big map. We also par ticipated in the cadets’ early morning reveille, saluting the Colors with them. Major Wait had many of the cadets tell us which branch of the service they had already signed up for and were shipping out to soon. We intend to return again next year. It was a day well spent with our young friends at Gainesville High School in Florida. Don Sherry Adjutant,

[email protected]

Students and Ch. 267 mem-bers at morn-ing reveille at Gainesville High School

Ron Carbaugh of Ch. 267 speaks to class on Tell America visit

Ron Carbaugh (L) and Terry Fitzpatrick of Ch. 267 address students at Gainesville High School

Students at Oceanside High School surround Buddy Epstein of Ch.55

267 - GENERAL JAMES A. VAN FLEET [FL]

Buddy Epstein of Ch. 55 with stu-dents at Weber Middle School

Don Sherry, Maj. Dennis Wait, Norm Tankersley, Terry Fitzpatrick, and Kimberly Mullins (L-R) at Ch. 267 presentation

30


KBS Arirang Television is preparing a program to air in

March 2019 on their Arirang English language broad-

cast channel. They are seeking to inter-

view Korean War veterans and families in the

United States regarding the traditional

Korean folk song Arirang, and looking for

Korean War souvenirs given to returning

veterans near to and after the armistice.

Arirang dates back to the 16th century

or earlier, and remains the most cherished

and remembered song in Korea; with sev-

eral hundred or more regional variations. As

of now they plan to send a production team to

the United States later in the year and are collecting infor-

mation regarding the following:

● Is the 7th ID still using Arirang as the official march-

ing song adopted in 1955?

● Would 7th ID veterans be willing to per-

form Arirang for the program?

● Are there veterans who can remember or

sing the Arirang song, and would they be will-

ing to sing the song for the program?

● Are there veterans or family members who

have any souvenirs related to the Korean War

given them by the Republic of Korea when they

returned home?

● Are there veterans or family members who

have the Korean Children’s Choir LP?

● Are there any veterans or family member who

possess “A Motherless Child” LP?

● The team is also requesting a list of events this

year and in early 2019 for Korea veterans at which

Arirang will be performed.

Note that they are

not seeking to keep

any of the noted sou-

venirs or albums; they

only want to interview

the veterans and the

families possessing

them.

Regarding sending

a team to the U.S., they

specifically would like to attend our annual mem-

bership meeting in Orlando. My contact point in

Korea is noted below.

Best regards,

Sofia Whang, TV writer and Interpreter, KBS Arirang Road Team If anyone wishes to help, please contact A.J. Key

at [email protected].

Arranging Arirang interviews

Photos Submitted for Publication in The

Graybeards Whenever possible, please identify the

subjects in photos you submit. We realize that is not always possible, especially in group photos. But, when you can, identify them, use designations such as (R-L), (L-R), (Standing, L-R), (Seated, L-R), etc.

And, please write subjects’ names as legibly as possible. We can usually figure out who the KWVA members are, but we cannot guess at non-members’ identities.

Visit the Korean War Veterans

Association Website:

www.kwva.org

Images of the scarf, Army Exchange album, the

album, and the LP cover

There was one female guest on Yo Do

Island at the time: war correspondent

Marguerite Higgins (1920-1966) of the

New York Herald Tribune. She contract-

ed leishmaniasis on assignment in 1965

while covering the Vietnam War and

died in 1966. In 2010, South Korea

posthumously awarded her one of their

highest awards, The Order of Diplomatic

Service Merit, for her coverage of the

Korean War in 1951. Ms. Higgins is

buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Seabee Detachment departed Yo

Do Island on the USS Comstock (LSD-

19) on July 17, 1952. A small detach-

ment of CBs from CBMU-101 remained

to act as Public Works for the island.

They remained until August 1953.

As part of the truce agreement that

ended hostilities, the UN was required to

return Yo Do Island to North Korean

control. Before leaving the island the

Seabees and the U.S. Marines removed

all valuable equipment and destroyed

what they could not take with them.

Altogether the air strip cost $5 million

dollars. In the short time it operated, it

saved more than $10 million in aircraft,

and only God knows what in lives and

injuries. It was a well spent $5 million.

Tom Moore, [email protected]

BRISCO from page 22

31


Membership is Our Strength It’s not the price you pay to belong, It’s the price you paid to become eligible to join

Now Hear This:

All comments concerning, or contributions for publication in The Graybeards should be sent to:

Art Sharp, Editor 2473 New Haven Circle Sun City Center, FL 33573-7141

or

emailed to: sharp_arthur_g @sbcglobal.net


Chapter & Department News

32

Featured Chapter

215 215 GEN WALTON H. WALKER [TX] GEN WALTON H. WALKER [TX]

Recipients of the 2018-19 Memorial Foundation scholarships

2018 is the first year the General Walton Walker Memorial

Foundation (GWWMF) has sponsored fifteen {15) $2,000 schol-

arships to deserving descendants of our Korean War veterans.

We thank the Foundation Chairman, retired ROK Army Colonel,

Kim Jong Min (John), and the Foundation Board of Directors for

sponsoring these scholarships for our students.

The GWWMF was established in 1971 by Ri-Jin Kim, a

Korean War veteran, to honor General Walton H. Walker, the

first 8th Army Commander in Korea. General Walker, who

issued the order, “Stand or Die,” is a hero who defended the

Pusan Perimeter and the Naktong River Line during the Korean

War, despite being outnumbered and outgunned by North

Korean forces.

The Scholarship Selection Committee, consisting of Korean

War veterans Chairman Lew Ewing, Narce Caliva, and

Jim Markley, thank all the outstanding young students

who submitted applications, and we congratulate the

recipients who were recognized in the Memorial Day

ceremony at our Korean War Memorial in Washington,

D. C. on May 28th. We are pleased that Chairman John

Kim was able to attend the ceremony and personally

congratulate the recipients who were in attendance.

The fifteen (15) 2018-19 scholarship recipients are:

Phoebe Bonney Phoebe is a 2018 graduate of Whitman-Hanson

Regional High School, where she served as captain of

the girls and boys swim team for four years. She is a

member of the National Honor Society, English Honor

Society, History Honor Society, and Spanish Honor

Society. She enjoys taking her dog to the beach, playing

her ukulele, reading, and hanging out with her friends.

She will be attending the University of Massachusetts

this fall, majoring in Psychology, and then enroll in

medical school to become a psychiatrist.

Krista Boop Krista, a 2016 graduate of Westland High School, is

currently attending Ohio University, majoring in

Psychology. At OU she is a member of Psi Chi, the

international honor society for psychology and has had

the honor of being on the Dean’s List. Aside from her

academic achievements, she is a member of the service

fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, allowing her to aid her col-

lege community. She has also recently been given the

secretary position in 4 Paws for Ability OU, where she

is a puppy sitter, socializing service dogs in training.

Chandler Engelbrecht Chandler, a 2018 graduate of Hilldale High School in

Muskogee, OK, will be attending the University of Oklahoma

this fall, majoring in Journalism. His career goal is to become a

sports writer. In high school, he was on the Superintendent’s

Honor Roll and achieved AP honors in Language, Trigonometry,

English, and American History. He was a member of the

National Honor Society and the Student Council. Chandler is

very proud of his Korean War veteran grandfather for the inspi-

rational leadership and guidance that he has given him and oth-

ers.

Sarah Farnsworth Sarah is a member of the junior class at Michigan State

University, where she is majoring in Elementary Education with

teaching focuses in Language Arts and Mathematics. Some of

her experiences include working with special needs children as a

paraprofessional, volunteering as a math and reading tutor in

local elementary schools, and participating in a teaching study-

ing abroad program in China. She also enjoys spending time

with her family and friends.

33


Parker Gunnison Parker is a 2018 graduate of Arrowhead High School, where

he was extremely involved in school activities. He led his

school’s elite Broadway group as their dance captain and sang

bass with the school’s Barbershop Quartet and A Capella group.

Parker served four years on the Student Senate and was a mem-

ber of the school’s Leadership team and the Principal’s Cabinet,

while being named as an AP Scholar. He also earned the Eagle

rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he was a mem-

ber of the Volleyball and Golf teams. Parker is pursuing a degree

in Aerospace Finance at Purdue University.

Elise Jensen Else, from Apple Valley, Minnesota, is an undergraduate stu-

dent at North Dakota State University, where she is studying

Nursing and Spanish, with aspirations to one day be a pediatric

nurse. Elise is a member of the Student Nurses Association and

serves as a tutor for pre-nursing students in courses such as

chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. She loves spending

time with her family and friends and getting together with people

at sporting events.

Madelyn Jett Madelyn is currently a senior at Northern Arizona University,

seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in History with a minor in

Museum Studies. She has a deep passion for American history,

especially the Civil War. Her love for history was nurtured by her

grandfather, a Korean War veteran. In her spare time Madelyn

enjoys reading fantasy series such as the Lord of the Rings,

Game of Thrones, and Outlander. She also loves watching

movies, calligraphy, and spending time with her family and her

dogs.

Katharine Lawrence Katharine will be entering her sophomore year at Indiana

University Bloomington this fall. She is pursuing a major in East

Asian Languages and Cultures with a concentration in both

Japanese and Korean, and seeking a career as a translator and

interpreter. She is proud of her Korean War Veteran grandfather,

Fred Boehie, a member of the 11th Engineer Battalion, and the

service he gave toward peace and freedom.

Nicholas Savas Niko Savas is a rising senior at Columbia University in New

York City, where he studies Political Science and Statistics with

an emphasis on international politics. At Columbia, he is

Treasurer of the Columbia University Hellenic Society and also

is a member of his school’s Men’s Division One Rowing Team.

He has a strong interest in the legal field and is working at a law

firm in Manhattan. He hopes to attend law school upon his grad-

uation from Columbia.

Dominique Seo Dominique is a student at Bowling Green State University,

where she plans to graduate in spring 2019 with a double major

in Economics and History. Upon graduating from BGSU, she

will pursue a career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Outside

the classroom she is involved in a variety of extracurricular

activities, including Model United Nations, being an active

member of a variety of honor societies, including Pi Beta Kappa,

Phi Alpha Theta, and Omicron Delta Epsilon, and as a member

of the Student Alumni Ambassadors. She also volunteers at the

local animal shelter and food pantry.

John Sinnicki John will be entering the freshman class at the University of

Maryland this fall, seeking a double major in Finance and

International Business. In high school he was in Model UN for

three years and learned a lot on how international cooperation

works and the effects that it can have on the world. He truly

believes that the global economy helps to unite the world and

that cooperation can be achieved through international trade.

John wants to be able to help people on a global scale through

economics and trade.

Lucas Stovall Luke is a 2017 graduate of the Anderson Home School

Association and was home schooled for 12 years. In high school

he was a member of the football team. He participated in the

Good News Club at Centerville Elementary, a member of the

New Prospect Baptist Church Youth Ministry and Video Team,

and has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Luke attends

Greenville Technical College, is majoring in Aircraft

Maintenance Technology, and will graduate in 2019 with an

Associate Degree. After graduation, he plans to continue his edu-

cation by earning an Avionics Maintenance Technology

Certificate.

Tristan Turner Tristan will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology

this fall, majoring in Chemical Engineering and seeking a BS

degree in Chemical Engineering and an MS in Material Science

in RIT’s five-year dual degree program. He is an Eagle Scout and

a 2018 graduate of Clean Technologies and Sustainable Early

College High School, where he was a Scholar Athlete participat-

ing on the golf, bowling and track teams. Tristan also attended

Hudson Valley Community College while in high school. He

wants to continue his advocacy for a clean sustainable planet and

develop a safe, friendly environment for everyone.

Bailey Volbrecht Bailey, a 2018 high school graduate and scholar athlete,

played volleyball for 4 years, basketball for 3 years, and track &

field for 4 years. She was a member of the National Honor

Society and the Senior Advocates and was valedictorian for her

senior class. She attended Young Life Christian youth group and

competed in the Montana Math Competition annually. She will

be attending Grand Canyon University, majoring in Biology, and

then go on to medical school to become a doctor/dermatologist.

Tate Volbrecht Tate will be entering his junior year at Boise State University,

seeking a degree in Political Science and Communications. He is

a Founding Father and current president of Boise State’s Phi

Gamma Delta Chapter. He also is a member and treasurer of the

political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, and a member of

Lambda Pi Eta, the communication honor society and competes

for the Boise State Talkin’ Broncos Speech & Debate Team. Off

campus, Tate regularly volunteers at the Idaho Foodbank, Boise

Library, and judges Speech & Debate at local high school tour-

naments.

Lew Ewing, [email protected]

13 13 BILL CARR CHAPTER 1 [DE] BILL CARR CHAPTER 1 [DE]

We donated $1,000 scholarships to six very qualified JROTC

graduating students from three local high schools: Sussex Tech,

Sussex Central, and Cape Henlopen, all in the southern part of

Delaware. Jack McGinley, President, and Walt Koopman,

Programs Director, made the awards in front of many student

friends and relatives at the Georgetown CHEER Center.

The purpose of the program is to assist these students with

their expenses as they progress to institutions of higher learn-

ing. The winners have been in the JROTC Program for all four

years of high school, have consistently earned top grades in the

classroom, and have developed proven leadership qualities.

Anyone wishing to join the KWVA Chapter may contact Jack

McGinley at [email protected] or call 302-945-0698.

Jack McGinley, 302-945-0698, [email protected]

19 19 GEN. RAYMOND G. DAVIS [GA] GEN. RAYMOND G. DAVIS [GA]

We met on June 5, 2018 at the Korean Cultural Center in

Norcross, GA. This was a joint meeting between our chapter and

the Southern Regional Chapter of Korean War Veterans to honor

the 68th anniversary of the Korean War.

At the luncheon meeting those veterans who served in Korea

during the conflict were presented with Certificates of

Meritorious Service. Altogether there were 18 from our chapter

and 33 from the Southern Regional chapter. (Unfortunately,

space restrictions won’t allow us to show all who received the

certificates.)

The certificates were presented by Mr. Mike Roby,

Commissioner for Veterans Affairs for the State of Georgia, and

Consul General Young-jun Kim, the Consul General for South

Korea, based in Atlanta.

The second event took place one week later, on June 12th, at

the Georgia Korean War Memorial on the grounds of the State of

Georgia office complex. At this ceremony we were pleased to

host Ms. Hannah Kim, the daughter of Korean immigrants who

34


Standing in front of the State of Georgia Korean War Memorial , Hannah Kim addresses Ch. 19 gathering

Rodney Rector of Ch.19 accepts his Certificate of Meritorious Service

Commissioner Roby (2nd from Left) presents Certificate of Meritorious Service to Frank Petraglio of Ch. 19 as Consul General Young-jun Kim (2nd from right) looks on

At the Awards Ceremony for Sussex Tech: Alex Angell, who will attend the Air Force Academy (L) and Aron Carrow, who will attend the University of Delaware

is visiting Korean War memorials in 21 countries and all the

memorials in our fifty states.

Afterwards Mr. Sunny Park treated everyone to lunch. It was

truly a wonderful day. We must admire the dedication of Ms. Kim

for her valiant journey visiting her “Grandpas.” (See Graybeards

Nov.-Dec. 2017, “Coming to a memorial near you,” p. 76).

Urban G. Rump, Secretary/Treasurer, 234 Orchards

Cir., Woodstock, GA 30188, 678-402-1251,

[email protected]

20 20 HAWAII #1 [HI] HAWAII #1 [HI]

Hawaii is known as the melting pot of races that live together

and embrace an enviable “aloha” spirit. This composition of

races is well represented in our chapter, as depicted in the nearby

photo of our Executive Board members. They include Caucasian

President Herbert Schreiner, Hawaiian Vice President James

Kaleohano, Chinese Secretary Edward Wong, and Japanese

Treasurer Tommy Tahara.

At its recent general meeting the American flag was set up by

Korean William Kim and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by

Filipino Sada Sanico. Retired MGen Donald Aten was recog-

nized for attending the meeting.

A 93-year-old member, Lucio Sanico, recently received the

Congressional Gold Medal for his service in the Philippines with

the U.S. Army in WWII. He was one of thousands of Filipinos in

the U.S. and Philippines who responded to the government’s call

to arms. 57,000 died to liberate the Philippines from Japanese

control.

After the war ended, Filipino veterans were denied promised

benefits resulting in a prolonged campaign for recognition as

U.S. veterans. This struggle ended seven decades later when the

government granted U.S. veteran status and awarded a one-time

monetary payment and Congressional Gold Medal on October

25, 2017.

Retired Major General Antonio Taguba, U.S. Army, whose

deceased father was one of the Filipino veterans, presented a

bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal to Lucio Sanico

and two dozen Filipino veterans at the U.S. Capitol in

Washington D.C.

Thanks to Stan Fujii, [email protected],

for the story and photos.

24 24 CHARLES PARLIER [IL] CHARLES PARLIER [IL]

Eleven members participated in the Forsyth IL Family Fest

Parade on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

William Hanes, [email protected]

35


“Melting pot” board of Ch. 20: President Herbert Schreiner, VP James (Ace) Kaleohano, Secretary Edward Wong, Treasurer Tommy Tahara (L-R)

RIGHT: Lucio Sanico displays his Congressional Gold Medal

LEFT: The medal awarded to Lucio Sanico

Parade participants from Ch. 24

Frank Petraglio, Stan Fisher, Urban Rump, Norman Board, and Gordon Sherman of Ch. 19 receive Certificates of Meritorious Service

40 40 MINNESOTA #1 [MN] MINNESOTA #1 [MN]

Blair C. Rumble, State Commander of Minnesota Korean War

Volunteers, represented the 1st Cav. Div., 7th Cav. Regt. at a

National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans event recently. (Note

the pin on the right side of his shirt in the nearby photo.)

Blair C. Rumble, 969 Lombard Ave.

Saint Paul, MN 55105

41 41 FROZEN CHOSIN [MN] FROZEN CHOSIN [MN]

We made a $1,000.00 donation to the Wall of Remembrance

Fund, which was duly recognized by the Webers.

We met with Hannah Kim on May 31, 2018, at the beautiful

Veteran’s Memorial at Soldier’s Field, which is in Rochester,

Minnesota.

Paul Steen, 507-445-3131, [email protected]

36


Members of Ch. 41 and attendees gathered to greet Hannah Kim in Rochester, MN

Attendees at National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans tribute in Minnesota; Ch. 40 rep Blair C. Rumble is 2nd from right (Photo by Thomas Stoner, Minneapolis, MN Veterans Health Care System Resource Service)

Introduction of the cere-mony upon Hannah Kim’s visit by Merle Peterson

Hannah Kim in Rochester, MN

Presentation of the Colors by Ch. 41 members at Rochester, MN

Paul Steen, Ch. 41 Secretary, Hannah Kim, and Ch. 41 President Bill Hoehn (L-R)

54 54 THOMAS W. DALEY, JR. [NJ] THOMAS W. DALEY, JR. [NJ]

Members appeared on stage at Rutgers University-Camden

NJ. The chapter was invited to attend a Veterans Day Celebration

and Luncheon, at which Commander Andy Jackson explained

our goals and mission.

Several of us appeared at a fundraising affair for veterans.

Andy Jackson, [email protected]

60 60 ADIRONDACK [NY] ADIRONDACK [NY]

Commander Roger Calkins received a framed remembrance

from Joe Cormie for his participation in the Bataan Memorial

Death March at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Chapter 60 helped sponsor Joe.

Carol Waldron, [email protected]

72 72 OREGON TRAIL [OR] OREGON TRAIL [OR]

To commemorate the beginning of the Korean War, it has been

traditional to have a special presentation at the Korean War

Memorial at Wilsonville, OR on or about 25 June. Greg Caldwell,

Honorary Consul of Republic of Korea, emceed the program.

Following the posting of the colors, Matt Cassidy, son of chapter

president Bob Cassidy, sang our national anthem. It was beautiful—

and done without the unnecessary “vocal gymnastics” which seems

to be the current trend. Soktu Kim led the singing of the Korean

national anthem.

A welcome by Kristin Akervall, Wilsonville City Councilor, pre-

ceded brief comments by John Lim, former OR State Senator (who

had been a houseboy for our military during the war). Don Cohen

gave a brief resume of the evolution of the memorial. He and the

late Don Barton pioneered the development, along with many vol-

unteers and donors of time and contributions for the huge undertak-

ing.

A wreath presentation, closing prayer by Chaplain Bruce

Wickward, “Taps,” played by Ron Phillips, a U.S. Army veteran,

and the retiring of the colors concluded this part of the morning.

In May, professional photographer Rami Hyun of Korea visited

the memorial and photographed 26 Korean War veterans to honor

and thank them for the freedom which he now enjoys. Individually

framed portrait size photos (plus a group photo) were presented dur-

ing lunch. “Project Soldier” is a compilation of Rami Hyun’s work

and can be viewed at www.project-soldier.com/about-project-1.

A lunch was arranged for and served by the KIMWA (Korean

Inter-Married Women’s Association) to all guests and veterans. A

number of organizations and donors merit recognition as well:

KWMFO (Korean War Memorial Foundation of Oregon), KSO

(Korean Society of Oregon), KAC (Korean American Coalition),

who are mostly second generation younger members of the Korean

community, McDonald’s of Wilsonville (for coffee and water), the

City of Wilsonville and, of course, our chapter.

Bob “Doc” Wickman, USN, USMC, Korea ‘53-’54,

[email protected]

99 99 TALL CORN [IA] TALL CORN [IA]

Korean baby adoption speakers featured at meeting Polly & Carl Chalstrom from Iowa adopted a South Korean

baby 15 years ago from a South Korean orphanage. They named

him Victor. It was a long and never-ending paper trail to get every-

thing moving.

A South Korean girl brought over the baby. The baby was

attached to her the whole time. They met her at the Des Moines air-

port and fell in love with him immediately. He is a smart, handsome

15 year old who has adjusted well. He is in different activities at

school.

If a Korean woman has a child out of wedlock she has to give

the baby up for adoption. Polly & Victor came to speak at our April

meeting at the Springville, IA American Legion post 331. They are

a wonderful family.

James Koenighain, [email protected] 37


Group from Ch. 54 at Rutgers University: (Back L-R) Bob Musser, Rick Daucunas, Stan Levin, Carl Letizia, Frank Brown, George Ulmer. At the podium is Commander Capt. Andrew T Jackson, USAR (RET

Charles Jackson, Bob Musser, Andy Jackson, George Ulmer, Fred Adolf, and Carl Letizia (L-R) of Ch. 54 at fundraiser

Commander Roger Calkins of Ch. 60 (L) receives framed remembrance from Joe Cormie

106 106 TREASURE COAST [FL] TREASURE COAST [FL]

We held our first Annual Picnic and Raffle to raise funds for

the Fisher House located at the West Palm Beach VA Medical

Center. The 1st prize was a hand-made Patriotic Quilt made by

Linda Carino, which Elton Wetteland, General Manager of Sun

Rise Ford, won. 2nd prize went to R. J. Miller of the Marine

Corps League. He donated his $500 prize to the Fisher House.

The picnic was a great success and we presented a check for

$1,100 to Shelley Prickett, Fisher House manager.

Harold Trieber, 573 Montevina Dr., Port St. Lucie, FL

34986, 561-568-9347, [email protected] 38


Harold Trieber of Ch. 106 pre-senting a check to Shelley Prickett for Fisher House

Victor Chalstrom displays Korean clothing for Ch. 99 members and guests

Commander Harold Trieber (L) of Ch. 106 presenting quilt to Elton Wetteland at Sun Rise Ford

Members of Ch.106 and their wives enjoying their first annual picnic

Polly Chalstrom and Victor at Ch. 99 meeting

Photos of Victor Chalstrom as a baby

122 122 ARDEN A ROWLEY [AZ] ARDEN A ROWLEY [AZ]

Hannah Kim visited us on May 21, 2018. She met with

Korean War veterans from all parts of Arizona.

James Bockman, 4035 E. Calypso Ave.

Mesa, AZ 85206

169 169 LAKE COUNTY [FL] LAKE COUNTY [FL]

We held our annual picnic outing in April at the Hickory Point

Recreation Center on Lake Griffin with 38 members and family in

attendance. It was a Florida spring day enjoyed by all in fellowship

and fun.

We received a big surprise when our lone ranger, Harry Olsen,

produced a matching charity funds donor to the tune of a $2,500.00

check, which was equal to Harry’s fundraiser in tiny Okahumpka, FL.

We are off to a sensational start for 2018, not only with fund rais-

ing, but also with our Tell America program. Three high schools

already committed for the fall semester. Congratulations to Gloria

Corbett, Joel Briggs, and “Semaphore” Frank Keaser.

In 2018 we welcome our new president and secretary team—Dick

and Doreen Zettlemoyer—to lead us onward and upward. Dick

praised the dedication and performance of our Honor Guard detail,

headed by Joel Briggs.

John McWaters, 2075 Callaway Dr., The Villages, FL

32162, 352-445-9316, [email protected]

39


Arizona veterans with Hannah Kim (3rd from left)

Grill master Charlie White and assistant Roger Ubaudi doing the cooking at the Ch. 169 picnic

Gene Zender receiving award from President Zettlemoyer (L) for his “always ready to help response” to all that is asked of him

RIGHT: Don Lynch and John McWaters of Ch. 169 holding one of many fund raisers this year

BELOW: Tell America speaker of Ch. 169 John McWaters updates audi-ence on Korean War with the help of the new 36” x 48” National Geographic Map

172 172 HANCOCK COUNTY [OH] HANCOCK COUNTY [OH]

The months of May and June were busy for us. Our Rose of

Sharon scholarship fund drive was held on May 19th with 16 mem-

bers volunteering. On June 7th we held our annual Spring Banquet,

at which Rose of Sharon scholarships were presented to Olivia

Griggs, great-granddaughter of Don Riker; Kacey Durlait, grand-

daughter of Doyle Tuttle; Allison Biddinger, granddaughter of Cliff

Biddinger; and Marcus Wynkoop, grandson of Ken Wynkoop. We

were pleased to have Colonel James Coomler as our speaker.

Larry Monday, Secretary, 419-387-7532,

[email protected]

40


President Ron Dutton presiding over the banquet

Colonel James Coomler addresses Ch. 172 gathering

Olivia Griggs and great-grandfather Don Riker of Ch. 172

Kacey Durilat and grandfather Doyle Tuttle of Ch. 172

Cliff Biddinger of Ch. 172 accepting scholarship of behalf of granddaughter Allison Biddinger

Jim Iler, Rollie Bibler, Elmer Wilch, and Len Ziessler (L-R) at Ch. 172 Rose of Sharon event

Ch. 172 members Doyle Tuttle, Jim Roberts, Jim Salisbury, and Bob Zellers (L-R) at Rose of Sharon event

Ralph Anderson, Ron Myers, Don VanRenterghem, and Cliff Biddinger of Ch. 172 participate in Rose of Sharon drive

Sam Ellis, Ken Wynkoop, Bob Perkins, and Jake Cogley (L-R) of Ch. 172 conduct Rose of Sharon sale

41


189 189 CENTRAL FLORIDA EAST COAST [FL]CENTRAL FLORIDA EAST COAST [FL]

On June 25 2018 the Korean American Association of East

Florida hosted the 68th Korean War Memorial and Korean War

Veterans Appreciation Ceremony for us at the VFW Post 3282 in

Port Orange, FL. In addition to a lovely catered lunch, entertain-

ment was provided by members of the Korean Baptist Church in

Daytona, with Korean folk songs, a harmonica duet, a sing-

along, and more.

Joseph Sicinski, 386-492-6551, [email protected]

251 251 SAGINAW-FRANKENMUTH [MI] SAGINAW-FRANKENMUTH [MI]

Our guest speaker in June was Ann Werele, Nurse Navigator,

at Covenant Hospital, Saginaw, MI. She talked about the history

of smoking and lung cancer in the 1940s, when virtually every-

one smoked because it was the accepted thing to do. She empha-

sized the testing for lung cancer at the present time and the num-

ber of programs offered to help smokers quit. It was a very inter-

esting program, for which we thank her.

We awarded two $1,000.00 scholarships for students entering

Michigan colleges, Kissandra Fried and Matthew Lubis.

Kissandra is entering Saginaw Valley University to study

Occupational Therapy. Matthew will study business administra-

Several officers of Ch. 189: Secretary Donna Hawes; Treasurer Robert Hawes; Board Chairman Chuck Husbands; Commander Joe Sicinski; Anita Sicinski, Jean Husbands (L-R)

The 60+ people in attendance at the Ch.189 event

Commander Joe Sicinski of Ch. 189 with In-Sook-Forget, President of Korean American Association of East Florida

Rod Phillips, Commander of Vietnam Veterans of America Ch. 140 (L) with Nancy Jung, Secretary, Korean American Association of East Florida, at Ch.189 Appreciation Ceremony

Front cover of the Ch. 189 ceremony program

42


tion at Michigan State University. (He was absent from the pres-

entation ceremony due to a previous commitment.) We wish both

students good luck with their studies.

Our Memorial Day Fund Drive, exchanging Rose of Sharon

flowers for donations at Pat’s Food Center, Freeland, MI, was a

huge success.

Richard Carpenter, 4915 N. River Rd.

Freeland, MI 48623

259 259 CENTRAL INDIANA [IN] CENTRAL INDIANA [IN]

We were privileged to learn about the life of a career Army

Finance Specialist at the May meeting. Retired U.S. Army

Command Sergeant Major Mark Sullivan served 24 years active

duty. He then began a second career with Defense Finance

Agency, which included a seven-year assignment in South

Korea.

His description of bringing payrolls to front line troops and

commanders for logistic funding in local markets overseas

explained the risks of his duty. Guarding and correctly disbursing

cash was not always a safe job. He is presently working at the

Defense Finance facility in Indiana at the Fort Harrison location.

Mark is the son of a World War 2 and Korea veteran. He told

of asking his Teacher/Author father to relate his experiences as a

U.S. Marine in WW2 and as a U.S. Army Sergeant in Korea in

1952-53, and the battles at “Old Baldy.” His dad, John J.

Sullivan, wrote about those events and Mark put the stories into

a book for future Sullivans to appreciate.

With Mark was another retired Army Command Sergeant

Major, W. Douglas Gibbens, who explained the functions of the

Association of the United States Army, of which he is Second

Region President. He invited 259 Members to consider the bene-

fits of becoming members and provided applications. Chapter

Commander Tine Martin is a member already.

In recognition of the June 25, 1950 invasion of South Korea,

CID 259 members joined the congregation of the Carmel,

Indiana Presbyterian Church for its services. Our chaplain, Bill

Barnhill, gave a sermon that was translated by sub-title on video

screens. Member Everett Greene, who is a professional vocalist,

sang a popular hymn.

Richard Haney, Kissandra Fried, her sponsor Lydia Davis, and Richard Redifer, Ch.251 Scholarship Committee Chairman (L-R), at check presentation

Richard Haney of Ch. 251 (L) presents check to Ronald Lubis, Matthew Lubis’s sponsor, as Richard Redifer (R) looks on

Richard Carpenter and Mary Chanity (Front L-R) and Eugene Feinauer, Richard Redifer, and Charles Chanity (Back L-R) conduct Ch. 251 fundraiser

Lydia Davis, Richard Haney, and Ann Werele at Ch. 251 June meeting

43


After the service we were addressed by Hannah Kim regard-

ing the funds needed for creating the Wall of Remembrance in

Washington, D.C. Members joined the congregation for a deli-

cious meal and good fellowship to close the event.

The courtesy and appreciation shown to our group was par-

ticularly touching when they reminded us that many of them

would not have been born if the U.S. armed forces had not

defeated the communists in South Korea. Several of the church

members had escaped from North Korea with the help of UN

forces.

After we left the church service members went to downtown

Indianapolis to visit the Indiana State Korean War Memorial and

observe the 68th anniversary of the start of the Korean War,

June 25, 1950. A charming guest visitor was Hannah Kim, who

observed the brief prayer and remembrance ceremony. Chaplain

Bill Barnhill offered prayers at the memorial.

John Quinn, [email protected]

264 264 MT. DIABLO [CA] MT. DIABLO [CA]

We participated in an Independence Day Parade and a festi-

val in Hercules that was held in honor of all veterans, some of

whom were asked to ride through the city on the float that was

provided. The parade ended in a park. Thousands of veterans

came from San Jose and Sacramento, and some of them wore

their former uniforms. During the parade hundreds of flags were

distributed to onlookers.

A unique aspect of the festival was the singing of “God bless

America.” Few participants probably knew the origin of this

famous piece of music written by Irvin Berlin which, in its early

years, was often sung at events protesting bigotry.

Berlin was a Russian escapee from religious persecution. He

wrote the song 25 years after his escape from oppression. He left

Russia in 1893, and served in the U.S. Army as a private during

WWI. He was posted at Yaphank, NY.

Stanley J. Grogan, 2585 Moraga Dr.,

Pinole, CA 94564

Ch. 259 members and Hannah Kim

Everett Greene of Ch. 259 sings at Presbyterian Church

John M. Quinn, Everett Greene, Treasurer Thomas Shepherd, Cmdr. Tine Martin, Hannah Kim, Chaplain Bill Barnhill, C. Bernard Huesing, Melvin Butler, Guy Miller and Vice Cmdr. Paul Dickerson at Ch. 259 June 25th observance

Bill Barnhill of Ch. 259 at pulpit

Overview of members and con-gregants at Ch. 259 church service


44

267 267 GENERAL JAMES A. VAN FLEET [FL] GENERAL JAMES A. VAN FLEET [FL]

Members attended an “Appreciation Night for Korean War

Veterans” on June 2, 2018 at the Korean Baptist Church of

Gainesville. Our Korean friends have been holding this event for

14 years now to thank the Korean veterans for their fight to

restore the freedom of the Republic of South Korea. They put on

a delicious buffet of Korean and American food, plus a reception

and an outstanding entertainment program.

Their parishioners have some world class entertainers who

perform for us every year. This year we had 48 members and

guests, and the Koreans had at least that many, for a combined

attendance of over 100 people.

Pastor Min Sohn and his assistant, Hee-Sung Bay, ran the

event. Pastor Sohn was the greeter and Master of Ceremonies for

the church. Ken Sassaman, our Master of Ceremonies, did an

excellent job, noting the importance of our getting together this

year with the heightened interest in the events taking place in

North Korea and the hopes for—finally—a peace treaty after the

summit talks.

Commander Norm Tankersley thanked our Korean friends

and told them how much we appreciate them, as Korea was

never the “forgotten war” to them. Don Sherry introduced our

members and they told us about their service while in Korea dur-

ing or after the war.

After dinner, the Koreans put on another talent filled program

of musical entertainment for us. They have produced many

“world class” musical artists from their programs over the years.

They closed the program with the Gloria Church Choir singing a

stirring tribute to the United States armed services, arranged by

L. Larson.

Everyone had a wonderful time at this magical evening we

spend each year with our friends from the Korean Baptist

Church of Gainesville.

Don Sherry, Adjutant, 352-375-8355,

[email protected]

297 297 PLATEAU [TN] PLATEAU [TN]

May was a very busy month. We awarded two $1,000 schol-

arships to graduating seniors of Cumberland County high

schools, did our annual fund raiser selling the Rose of Sharon

Flowers, and held our annual “Raising of the Colors” on

Memorial Day at Fairfield Glade with a very good crowd attend-

ing! We always wear our uniforms for these events, are well

accepted in the community, and look “VERY SHARP.”

This year’s winners of the Korean War Veterans annual schol-

arships are Jordan Houston from Stone Memorial and Nick

Stanley Grogan of Ch. 264 (left front) waits with some attendees at the Hercules Senior Center prior to boarding the bus for the July 4th Parade and festivities

The program for the Ch. 267 event

Members and guests from Ch. 267 enjoy dinner served by Korean Baptist Church members


Carpenter from CCHS. Ms. Houston plans on studying biochem-

istry at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. Mr. Carpenter, recently

elected as an officer in the FFA, will study Agriculture and

Political Science at UT Martin in Murfreesboro.

KWVA members comprising the Scholarship Committee are

Cmdr. Gene Stone, Gene Ferris, Jim Morris, and Dick Malsack.

Dick Malsack, PIO, 931-707-7292,

[email protected]

299 299 KOREA VETERANS OF AMERICA [MA] KOREA VETERANS OF AMERICA [MA]

Walmart Comes Through Again for us Each year our members have been welcomed by Walmart

management in West Boylston, MA to conduct a fundraiser for

our charitable activities. Following the event, Certificates of

Recognition were presented to our hosts, store manager Benny

Apraku-Boateng, and Delmar Sherrill, known locally as Mr.

Community Relations.

Note that the West Boylston Walmart

erected a “Wall of Honor” featuring the picture of Massachusetts’

residents who served in the military and those from Central

Massachusetts who gave their lives for our country and freedom.

(Mr. Sherrill is on it as a former Army Air Corps Lieutenant.)

Al McCarthy, [email protected]/Jeff

Brodeur, 48 Square Rigger Ln., Hyannis, MA 02601,

617-997-3148, [email protected] 45

Scholarship recipients Jordan Houston (Front, left) and Nick Carpenter with Ch. 297 Scholarship Committee

Jim Morris of Ch. 297 relaxes while working the annual sale of the Rose of Sharon during the Pancake Breakfast in Fairfield Glade, TN

Cmdr Gene Stone of Ch. 297 calls cadence while members Bobby Phillips, Gene Ferris, and Carroll Reusch assist in posting the colors at the Memorial Day festivities in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee

At Ch. 297’s annual Memorial Day Fund Raiser in Cumberland County: Cmdr Gene Stone with State Representative Cameron Sexton, who gave us a substantial donation, while in the background, Marsha Blackburn cam-paigns for the Senate seat being vacated by current Senator Bob Corker

Members of Ch. 299 fundraising team: Ed Langevin, Commander; Al McCarthy, Chapter Adjutant & National 2nd Vice President; Bernie “Sunrise Eagle” Martino; and Charley Morris, Sr. Vice. (L-R)

Al McCarthy stands in front of Walmart Wall of Honor with managers Delmar Sherrill and Benny Apraku-Boateng (L-R) (PF)

305 305 CARSON CITY [NV] CARSON CITY [NV]

Each year on the anniversary of the beginning of the Korean

War the members of the Young-Nak Presbyterian Church of

Reno, NV, send an invitation to members of the area KWVA

chapters.

“The members of the Church never forget the Korean War of

1950-1953. All of our congregation appreciates those veterans

who participated in the war and fought for Korea and its people.

As a token of our appreciation, we invite and welcome those vet-

erans and their family members.”

The church offers a remembrance ceremony, a terrific lunch-

eon, and entertainment. Several members of our chapter and of

Chapter 198, Reno, and their families accepted the invitation and

enjoyed a day of camaraderie, fun, and food.

Thank you to the Young-Nak Presbyterian Church of Reno.

Larry Osborne, Secretary, [email protected]/Larry

Reid, Historian & Photographer

314 314 WESTERN CAROLINA [NC] WESTERN CAROLINA [NC]

Several members attended a Korean Association of Asheville

dinner on June 25, 2018.

Fremont V. Brown III, 1434 Brevard Rd.,

Asheville, NC 28806, 828-777-5326,

[email protected]

319 319 LAWTON [OK] LAWTON [OK]

We have had an Annual Recognition of June 25th, when North

Korea invaded South Korea. This is the seventh year since the

forming of our chapter that we have paid tribute to the men and

women who fought in the war and to the veterans who have

served from then to present in defense of South Korea. Ms. Sarah

Pohawpatchoko sang the national anthem. Also present were the

wives of the Comanche Honor Guards.

CSM (ret.) Edwin Moody and Ms. In-Suk Pace placed a

wreath at the memorial honoring the local veterans who gave

their all and to the veterans still serving in defense of South

Korea.


46

Commander Bill Lack, Kevin Tiger Bang, Korean Association of Asheville, Treasurer Glenn Richardson, and Leander Parker (L-R) at Ch. 314 dinner

Food galore served by the mem-bers of the Young-Nak Presbyterian Church of Reno, NV

Passing through the chow line at Young-Nak Presbyterian Church gathering

Past President B. C. Arenz, Major Jeong (ret.), from the Korean New Light Church, behind Aaron Boone, current President of Ch. 319 (speaking), Lenny Asepermy, Commander of the Comanche Honor Guards, who are holding the flags at Oklahoma ceremony, as Sarah Pohawpatchoko sings national anthem (L-R)

National KWVA Fund Raiser Flower Rose of Sharon

The Rose of Sharon is the National KWVA fund raising flower. The Rose of Sharon is sold by the dozen.

r Sample order is 4 doz. @ $12 plus $6.35 S/H.

r Minimum order is 20 doz. @ $60 plus $12.35 S/H.

r Orders for 21 to 100 doz. @ $3/doz. plus $16 45 S/H

r Order for 400 doz. or more qualify for a special discount

Write or call: Earl House, 1870 Yakona Rd., Baltimore, MD 21234 Phone 410-661-8950. Make Checks payable to: KWVA Maryland Chapter 33


47

Reverend Bono–Woong Koo, former Navy Chief of the

Korean Chaplains, gave a tribute to all the veterans, both

American and Korean service members who gave their lives so

South Korea would remain free. He explained the gratitude that

South Korea has not only for the veterans who fell during that

conflict, but also for those men and women who are still serving

in defense of South Korea. He said they will never be forgotten.

After the ceremonies all who were present at the rededication

were invited to a free lunch at the Korean New Light Church,

served by the ladies of the church.

During lunch two Korean War veterans who were in combat

at the beginning of the hostilities were presented with prestigious

flag cases that contained both the American and South Korean

flags. Armando Ortega received his case from Rev. K. Jeong and

President Aaron Boone. Laroy Arenz received his case from Rev.

Jeong and his brother and Past President Bud Arenz.

We had a last call honoring seven more of our members who

died during the year. To date we have lost 29 of our Korean War

members. God bless them all.

Bud C. Arenz, P.O. Box 84,

Lawton, OK 73502, 580-248-1786

327 327 GEN. JOHN H. MICHAELIS [PA] GEN. JOHN H. MICHAELIS [PA]

Marking Flag Day 2018, Chapter 327 was dished up a double treat.

Our first treat was making good on our goal of involving the

Korean American community to a greater degree in chapter func-

tions. Two pastors and congregations of the Central Pennsylvania

Church Association treated members to a delightful selection of

typical Korean dishes.

Pastor Paul Kim introduced our Korean American friends and

described the basic food items. Rev. Inho Kang then said grace in

both Korean and English. The foods were attractively presented

and served by our guests and equally enjoyed by our members.

Our second treat came when KWVA’s own Sam Fielder enter-

tained us by reciting several patriotic poems from his collection,

Farmer Sam’s American Dream Poetry. Most appropriate for

CSM (ret.) Edwin Moody (L) and Ms. In-Suk Pace place a wreath at the Oklahoma memorial

Attendees at Oklahoma observance enjoy chow

Rev. Bono–Woong Koo speaks to Oklahoma audi-ence

BELOW: Armando Ortega (L) receives flag case from President Aaron Boone (C) of Ch. 319 and Rev. K. Jeong

Laroy Arenz (L) accepts flag case from his brother Bud (C) and Rev. K. Jeong


48

Flag Day were his selections, “Our Flag,” “Heroes Like You,”

and “The Forgotten War,” among others.

Sam was at the podium about 45 minutes. Like others who

have heard Sam perform at our national forums, we were aston-

ished at his stamina and remarkable ability to recite so much

poetry from memory. It goes without saying that Sam had a very

appreciative audience.

Paul H. Cunningham, President, 717-299-1990, pcun-

[email protected]

328 328 LOS ANGELES [CA] LOS ANGELES [CA]

We were invited to the Hite Jinro Companies golf tournament

to accept a generous donation to our chapter. We will share our

good fortune with the National KWVA. One of the highlights

was a delicious luncheon featuring Korean BBQ Ribs and kim-

chee.

Company president Mr. Hwang was proud to be a sponsor of

the KWVA, as he appreciates our efforts to keep the memories

of the Korean War fresh in the minds of the American people

Joe Wong, [email protected]

Rev. Inho Kang says grace at Ch. 327 meeting

Sam Fielder recites poetry for Ch. 327 audience

Standing in front of almost 100 golf carts prior to Hite Jinro Companies golf tournament and displaying facsimile of the donation check to Ch. 328 are Jungho Hwang, Chapter President Robert Son, Joseph Wong, Tommy Yamamoto, and Davelin Wilson (L-R)

Davelin Wilson, Joseph Wong, and Robert Son of Ch. 328 (L-R) display gift packages at golf tournament

Davelin Wilson, VP of the Hite Jinro Companies, Jungho Hwang, the presi-dent of the Hite Jinro Wine and Spirit Company of Korea, Joseph Wong, and Ch. 328 President Bob Son (L-R) at golf tournament

Quote

“Living history is one thing, but you must do something with it.”

(Monika Stoy)


49

329 329 TIBOR RUBIN MEDAL OF HONOR [NVTIBOR RUBIN MEDAL OF HONOR [NV] ]

Korean War veterans welcomed home and honored at dedication of Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial was unveiled under a

clear blue sky on March 3, 2018 to a crowd of 350 veterans, res-

idents, Koreans, and dignitaries at the Southern Nevada Veterans

Memorial Cemetery. The memorial honors those who served in

the Korean War, including the 37 Nevadans who lost their lives.

The 9,125 Korean War veterans buried at the memorial cemetery

and the 37 Nevadans were welcomed home with their own

memorial.

“Since 1950 I made a promise to these vets that I would bring

them home. I envisioned that one day we could welcome home

my brother vets with a place for their loved ones and fellow sol-

diers to sit and grieve, meditate and salute their service. Up until

this point these vets didn’t have a place here memorizing those

lives lost in the war,” said Commander Chuck Johnson. The

memorial was designed and built by the chapter and financed by

the Las Vegas Korean community and many donations by fami-

lies, friends, and brother veterans.

The memorial commemorates the sacrifices of the 9,125

service members who are buried at the memorial cemetery and

who served in the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War. The

war was one of the most hard fought in our history. From June

25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, 36,574 Americans died in the freezing

cold battlefields of the Korean Peninsula. Some 7,800 are listed

as missing in action or lost or buried at sea; six of them are

Nevadans. Another 103,284 were wounded during the conflict.

The dedication ceremony included the singing of the U.S.

national anthem, by Christy Molasky, and the Korean national

anthem, by Eun Hee Kim. Guest speakers included Kat Miller,

Director of Nevada Department of Veterans Services, Belinda

Morse, Chairwoman of Honor Flight of Southern Nevada,

Oliver Lee, Las Vegas Korean Association, Congresswoman

Jacky Rosen, 3rd District NV, and Colonel Tom Czech, USMC

Retired. The keynote speaker was Consulate General of the

Republic of Korea Kim Wan-Joong. Representatives from U.S.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, NV and Congresswoman Dina

Titus, 1st District NV, attended.

The highlight of the program was the reading of the names of

the 37 service members from Nevada who paid the ultimate

price for their country. The names were read by Judy Ariola and

Iris Keels, Chapter 329 Ladies Auxiliary, and backed by “Taps,”

performed by Larry Ranson and the Trumpeters.

Judy Ariola & Iris Keels of the Ch. 329 Ladies Auxiliary read names of 37 service members from Nevada who paid the ultimate price for their country

The Ch. 329 Korean War Veterans Memorial shortly after unveiling

Commander Chuck Johnson of Ch. 329 being interviewed by Channel 3 News, KSNV Las Vegas, Kyndell Nunley and cameraman Noberto

Fidel Diaz, Ch. 329, leads the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance with the JROTC Honor Guard from Palo Verde High School, Las Vegas, NV

50


Our Board of Directors, comprising Chuck Johnson,

Commander, US Army 1950-1952, 1st Vice Commander, Larry

A. Bacon, US Air Force 1952-1953, 2nd Vice Commander Lee

W. Mowery, US Air Force 1951-1952, Adjutant Larry

Kohlieber, US Air Force 1951-1953, Secretary Hank Sawicki,

US Army 1951-1952, Treasurer Fidel Diaz, US Army 1950,

Scuttlebutt Editor Stanley M. Croonquist, USMC 1953-1954,

and Sergeant-at-Arms Mack Macalino, USMC 1953-1954,

closed the ceremony by laying a commemorative wreath in

front of the memorial monument. The memorial featured a

monument weighing 7,220-pounds, resting benches, brickwork

and walkways.

“Now there is a place where our brothers resting here at the

cemetery can be welcomed home and honored. That was my

purpose,” said Commander Johnson.

Fidel Diaz reflected, “We are honoring those that are here

and those that never made it back. The memorial recognizes

that the Korean War veterans are ‘not forgotten.’”

John Diaz, Director of Public Relations, 702-372-

5099, [email protected]

DEPARTMENTS

HAWAII HAWAII

The 68th Anniversary of the Korean War Memorial Service

was held on June 25, 2018, at the National Memorial Cemetery

of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Mr. Jimmy Shin, President of

KWVA Aloha chapter, in partnership with the Korean

Informational Association Corp. and the National Cultural

Festival for Peaceful Unification of Korea, organized an elabo-

rate program that included a Korean opera singer who sang

Arirang, USMC band, a bagpiper, memorial medal to every vet-

eran, free lunch at a Korean restaurant, and dinner at a private

mansion.

Stan Fujii, [email protected]

NEW YORK NEW YORK

We held a memorial service at the Gerald B.H. Solomon

National Cemetery in Saratoga, NY during the NY State

Department Conference.


Display of colors at Punchbowl

KWVA wreath bearers James “Ace” Kaleohano and Sam Belen at Hawaii cere-mony

Purple Heart wreath bearers Robert Young, Thomas Tsuha and Thomas Tanaka at Punchbowl commemoration

USMC bagpiper at Hawaii event

President of KWVA HI Chap 1 Herbert Schreiner and City Councilman Ron Menor at Punchbowl

Alexah Bedard, great granddaughter of Ch. 60 Chaplain Paul O’Keefe (C), and Scott Lamb, Director of the Solomon National Cemetery, at memorial service

Some of the NY State membership who participated in the memorial service at the Jerry Solomon National Cemetery

51


Every year, all across the nation, Americans pause on

Memorial Day to honor those members of the military who have

died in the service of their country. We present in this annual

section a round-up of services attended and/or conducted by

chapters and individual members of the KWVA.

25 – GREATER CHICAGO [IL]

We participated in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade on May 26,

2018. This annual event, usually held on the last Saturday in May, is

one of the largest attractions honoring the country’s war dead—and

all veterans.

Our members are proud

to participate in this timely

event and we are fortunate

to negotiate a far forward

position among the hun-

dreds of younger and more

physically capable parade

marchers. There are only a

few of us still able to march

the mile down State Street.

The hundreds of

spectators are always

appreciative with the

cheering and saluting of

the “Forgotten War”

veterans. For those

unable to march, the

Troop Trolley is avail-

able following the ban-

ner marchers.

Charles Simokaitis, 1211 Potter Rd., Park Ridge, IL 60068, 847-698-7372

MEMORIAL DAY 2018MEMORIAL DAY 2018State Street crowds receiving a joyous wave from KWVA “Vets” in Chicago

Ch. 25 banner bearers Steve Weber (L) and Rich Agemura lead the chapter down State Street (that ‘Great Street”) in Chicago

A few Ch. 25 non-marchers aboard “Troop Trolley”

Commander Charles Simokaitis of Ch. 25 receives final inspec-tion from Norm Sachman before step-ping off “Troop Trolley” in Chicago

Ch. 25 members pass-ing historic Chicago Theater on State Street

Chicago parade partici-pants from Ch. 25 prior to the parade: Steve Weber, Ed Krohn, Charles Simokaitis, Tom Bezouska, Norm Sacbman, Walt Malinskowski, Don Glasell, ‘Tony’ Bezouska, Guest, Rich Agemura, Ed Bolan, Bob Bezouska

52


Flag bearer Charles Simokaitis leads Ch. 25 Color Guard comprising Ed Krohn, Ed Bojan, and Don Glasell in Chicago parade

55 – NASSAU COUNTY #1 [NY]

American Legion Post 1711 of Levitttown, NY sponsored the

local parade, which is over two miles long. This year they had a

float for the veterans and family members who preferred riding to

walking.

Robert P. O’Brien, 408 Fifth Ave., Cedarhurst, NY 11516

60 – ADIRONDACK [NY]

As part of the

Memorial Day Parade

held in Glens Falls, NY,

we held a memorial

service at The Crandall

Park Memorial. Robert

“Bob” Garland was the

keynote speaker.


131 – NORTHWEST OHIO [OH]

We took part in Toledo’s

Memorial Day Parade and

wreath-laying activities.

Secretary Charles Jones

and John Dixon placed

wreaths at memorials.

William Lyzan, 2429 Norma Pl.,

Northwood, OH 43619

170 – TAEJON [NJ]

Commander and National Director George Bruzgis led our

annual Memorial Day observance on May 27th. Twelve Korean

War veterans participated in the event, which took place in front of

the Korean War Monument erected in 2000.

Commander Bruzgis welcomed

the people who showed up to

honor military men and women

who gave their all to our country.

Since it had rained during the

night, and there was a threat of

more all day, the ceremony started

at 12:30 p.m.

The Township of Saddle

Brook, NJ provided the Police

Color Guard and its fire department furnished the bugler for Taps,

played by Anthony Halko, Jr. During the national anthem chapter

member Erwin Burkett lowered the flag to half-staff. Then

Chaplain Robert Domanoski offered an opening prayer, followed

by a moment of silence. Our main speaker was NJ State Senator

Joseph Lagana, 38th District.

Contingent from Ch. 55 participates in Memorial Day parade: (Front, L-R) Charlie Bours, Dick Doster, Helen O’Brien, Robert O’Brien; (Back, L-R) Arnie Barletta, Larry O’Leary

Continued

Ù

53


Commander Charlie Bours (L), Dick Doster (C), and Robert O’Brien of Ch. 55 reading names of deceased members of chapter at Memorial Day observance

The float provided by American Legion Post 1711 for veterans to ride during Memorial Day Parade

Wreaths placed at Toledo, OH monu-ment on Memorial Day 2018

Charles Jones (L) and John Dixon of Ch. 131 place wreath at Korean War Memorial in Toledo, OH

Roger Calkins, Commander of Ch. 60 (L), at memorial service with Bob Garland

Speaker Joseph Lagana (L) and George Bruzgis at Ch. 170 event

Robert Domanoski (L) and Erwin Burkett of Ch. 170, who played sig-nificant roles in the Memorial Day event

Present at the ceremony were Saddle Brook Mayor Robert

White, Police Chief Robert Kugler, Church Elder Mr. Kyu Ho

Park, of the Korean Methodist Church of Paramus, NJ (as

always), and eight Korean War veterans from his church.

Five wreaths were placed at the monument by VFW Chapter

3484, American Legion Post 415, Saddle Brook Town Council,

Korean Methodist Church of Paramus, and our chapter. The

long parade followed—through a slight drizzle.

After the parade ended we enjoyed refreshments at the VFW

Post. Many of our Korean War veterans are members of the

post.

Louis Quagliero, 142 Illinois Ave., Paterson, NJ 07503

172 – HANCOCK COUNTY [OH]

On May 28th, we participated in the City of Findlay’s

Memorial Day parade.

Larry Monday, Secretary, 419-387-7532, [email protected]

251 – SAGINAW-FRANKENMUTH [MI]

We participated in Memorial Day activities, including a

parade.

Richard Carpenter, 4915 N. River Rd., Freeland, MI 48623

Ch. 172 reps at Findlay, OH parade (Front) Paul McDaniel; (Back, L-R) Bob Perkins and Bob Zellers


54

Joseph Louis, Walter Amos, Jr. Vice Commander Henry Ferrarini, and George Rothfritz of Ch. 170 (L-R) at Memorial Day observance

Don VanRenterghem of Ch. 172 at Findlay, OH parade

Elder Kyu Ho Park and church members, including eight Korean War veterans, at Ch. 170 ceremony

Wreaths surround Ch. 170’s monument

Historian for Ch. 170, Louis Quagliero, stands by Korean War Monument

Miniature U.S. Army jeep leads Memorial Day Parade at Frankenmuth, MI

Veterans, including many Ch. 251 mem-bers, aboard trailer in Frankenmuth, MI parade

55


264 – MT. DIABLO [CA]

We combined with Chapter 1525 of the VFW to sponsor a

joint Memorial Day program. We distributed free water to people

who requested it.

In attendance were Stan and Mary Grogan, John Cintrzak,

Kathleen Farley, Pete Loechner, and Ken and Pat Rishell.

Stanley J. Grogan, 2585 Moraga Dr., Pinole, CA 94564

270 – SAM JOHNSON [TX]

Nineteen members attended a Memorial Day Ceremony in

Garland, TX on May 28th. The event was held at the Garland

Texas Senior Center. A special plaque honoring a Garland resi-

dent killed in service to his country was on display at the center.

Members registered for the event with the assistance of Doyle

Dykes, 2nd Vice President of the chapter. Our Color Guard

opened and closed the ceremony. Richard Sanchez has coordinat-

ed color guard activities in the chapter for the past twelve years.

Jim Bradshaw spoke about the Sam Johnson Chapter. He

explained their meetings, activities, and involvement at the

Veterans Affairs facilities in Texas.

Robert “Ski” Wojciechowski spoke

about the importance of this remem-

brance and the pride he felt from attend-

ing this ceremony. Activities included a

lunch for the veterans and their guests.

All involved felt this was one of the best

organized ceremonies they had ever

attended.

Joe Seiling, [email protected]

299 – KOREA WAR VETS OF AMERICA [MA]

We and members of Ch. 300, Korean War Veterans of

Massachusetts, placed bouquets at the Massachusetts Korean

War Memorial and Massachusetts Korean Defense Service

Memorial in the Charlestown Navy Yard, which is home to the

USS Constitution, aka “Old Ironsides.” There were about 50

attendees at the ceremony, including

new Boston Korean Consul General

Yonghyon Kim and staff.

Mrs. Louis Pelosi, whose husband

was at the Chosin Reservoir, and who

Korean Consul General Kim (Back, Center) observes Memorial Day with Ch. 299 members

Many attendees at the Clayton, CA Memorial Day observance stay out of the sun

Members of Ch. 264 at Clayton, CA event

Color guard members of Ch. 270: Ernest Bousquet, Richard Sanchez, Jim Bradshaw, Jerry Kasten, and Billy Joe Denten (L-R)

Robert “Ski” Wojciechowski speaks at Ch. 270 ceremony

LEFT: Lou Stefano and Fred Carpes of Ch. 300 at Charlestown, MA ceremony

KWVA members gathered at Charlestown, MA for commemora-tion

Continued on page 76

56


Where were you on July 27th? [This is another installation in a continuing series of “Where were you on July 27, 1953?” The series can only continue if you send your remembrances of that day. It doesn’t matter where you were: back at home by that time, en route to Korea, on the front lines, on R&R…we would like to know where you were, what you were doing, how you reacted, etc. Send your stories to us at: Arthur G. Sharp, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center, FL 33573.]

I left, so did the Chinese I arrived in Korea in mid-July 1951 and was assigned to the

5th Cavalry Regiment. My unit participated in Old Baldy. I

stayed on with the unit for two tours in the Land of the Rising

Sun.

I left Pusan on the Marine Lynx for home around the 24th of

July 1953 and there I was on July 27, 1953 when the news on the

ship’s loudspeaker made the announcement that the armistice had

been signed.

Amazingly the news didn’t create a ripple of emotion among

the troops on board. I do recall that I thought the Chinese didn’t

get me and gave up the cause.

Pell Johnson, [email protected]

Preparing for the parties My unit, the 21st Bn AAA Btry D, assigned to the 25th Div.,

was relieved on line to a reserve area the second week of July.

The unit consisted of M16 half-tracks with quad 50 cal. machine

guns. All our batteries looked alike.

We traveled around like gypsies. The 21st Bn. had four batter-

ies, plus an HQ battery. Each battery had two platoons. Each pla-

toon had eight half-tracks. The 21st had 64 half-tracks. That

amounts to 256 50 cal. machine guns, which translates into a lot

of fire-power—and a lot of noise. We did not have any ear pro-

tection. If you survived, you had a hearing loss or became deaf.

The rumors of the end of the war had been flying around for

some time. Being in the reserve area meant hot cooked food and

hot showers, along with time to visit with other members of the

unit. Being in reserve gave me time to exploit my alternate MOS,

“DOG ROBBER,” and gather a stock of beverages for the com-

ing celebration.

There was a motor pool at this location where we could have

our tracks overhauled. In back was a large pile of damaged vehi-

cles that were used for spare parts. This was a great place for me

to hide the party favors I was collecting. Some of the folks in the

motor pool led me to places on the vehicles to hide the loot. For

this help they received first pick for their party.

The cease fire was official at 10 p.m. We had a number of par-

ties that night, and visited most of them. Everyone was pleased

that the patrols were over. If a reader recognizes someone from

the photos, please pass the names on to me.

Happy 65th anniversary.

Jim Low, 114 Wembridge Dr., E. Syracuse, NY 13057, 315-437-0833

Jim Low (L) and comrades celebrate the cease fire by singing four-part harmony like the Four Freshmen—after a number of beers, Three Feathers, and Four Roses whiskeys. “Boy, did we sound good. We turned down a record deal; we were too busy,” Low said facetiously.

The cease fire started at 10 p.m. The soldier in the bed started celebrat-ing at lunch. He missed supper and the real party. The other two, thinking they were Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, danced the night away, soon to join their buddy. They were drinking GI cocktails, i.e., pour half the soda out of the bot-tle and replace it with booze.

C Btry of the 21st Bn AAA. My guess is that they stopped to reload, and the soldier standing on the hood is watching for the ‘bad guys.” I was in the former group.

57


New trucks get old quickly During July of 1953, I was serving as Battery Exec Officer

of B Battery of the 933rd AAA AW Battalion, stationed in

Inchon. On July 19th, an agreement covering all issues con-

cerning the truce was reached, and for a limited period of time,

UN troops were allowed access into the new demilitarized

zone. Simultaneously, my battalion’s mission to protect the

port of Inchon from aerial attacks became history.

On July 26th, I wrote to my wife that I had been detailed to

take ten men and haul 105mm & 155mm howitzer ammo to

ROKA battalions of the 5th FA Gp,, located north of

Chunchon, about 5 miles south of Sabangori, and to retrieve

brass artillery shell casings from the demilitarized zone. Two

other lieutenants and men from other units were on this assign-

ment and we had about 50 2½-ton trucks, all of them almost

brand new.

We had our share of troubles. One truck’s (automatic) trans-

mission broke down at a point that was under enemy observa-

tion and within mortar and artillery range. Another turned over

on its way back, but it was empty. A third caught on fire

because the driver left the emergency brake on, a fourth’s

brakes broke down, and another had an ordinary flat.

Fortunately, the North Koreans and Chinese did not add to our

troubles and nobody was hurt. However, the ROKA battalion

that received our ammunition was shelled the next morning,

and an area we had gone through that evening was shelled just

after we got our last truck out. So, we were pretty lucky.

Now the whole thing is over. No quarters were available and

we’ve been sleeping in trucks and washing in a creek all week.

Tomorrow morning (July 27th) they’re supposed to sign the

truce. We’re in a pretty little valley and it’s quiet and peaceful.

It doesn’t smell here—all the civilians with their honey wag-

ons had long been evacuated.

For the last four days, we have been expecting to return to

Inchon, but they wouldn’t let us go. On July 29th we drove for

two hours through some of the most rugged country I’ve seen:

nothing but mountains and valleys without a 50-yard stretch of

straight road. I drove one of the trucks myself. On the 30th, I

got back “home” to Inchon.

The atmosphere in Inchon after the armistice went into

effect was surreal. The treaty was not endorsed by Syngman

Rhee and was generally unpopular with our South Korean

allies, who did not want a divided nation. Reprisals were not

entirely unexpected, but to the best of my knowledge, did not

occur. As soldiers of the 933rd, we had carried loaded carbines

whenever we left the safety of our compound. And we had

worked alongside of Transportation Corps troops who hadn’t

even been issued any arms. That had changed by the time I

returned from the demilitarized zone. Transportation Corps

troops were now armed.

It was rumored at the time that we had saved the govern-

ment about $150,000 by retrieving the brass. About a month

later, I rotated back to the states and returned to civilian life.

Benjamin K. Raphael, LTC, USAR (ret), 727 Art Lane, Newark, DE 19713, (302) 368-3969,

[email protected]

And I should listen to the North Koreans why? I was with the 25th Infantry Division, 64th Field Artillery,

during 1953. Before the war ended we were in combat until the

North and South leaders met. During the meeting I was in the

meeting building as the permanent groups arrived. I had my 45

caliber sub-machine gun with me while I stood guard at the

incoming door. The North Koreans yelled at me because I had

my machine gun on my shoulder. I would not leave it outside.

A U.S. Army Captain came over and told me to stand on the

outside of the building as a guard—with my machine gun. Yes, I

did what he asked.

I ended my two-year stint with the Army with the Bronze Star,

Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic

of Korean War Service Medal, and Korean Defense Service

Medal.

Edward Harook, 9640 Huttenlocker Rd., Munith, MI 49259

My lucky tour in Korea I was in the 40th Div., 223 Inf. Regt. I arrived in Korea via

Pusan by the Naktong River. In July 1953 the 40th had a defen-

sive position at the Punchbowl until July 10th, when it was

relieved by the ROK

20th Division.

The Sandbag

Castle and Heartbreak

Ridge sectors received

heavy fire on July 27,

1953, with a four-hour

period of 470 enemy

mortar rounds on our

position. We returned

1,100 rounds. Prior to

this our F-86s shot

down 13 MiGs.

By day’s end it was

all over: truce signed

Anthony J. Casaccio, 164 Bedford G, West Palm Beach, FL 33417, 561-640-9671,

[email protected]

Anthony Casaccio in Korea

Anthony Casaccio displays newspa-per announcing truce

58


Feedback/Return Fire This section of The Graybeards is designed to provide feedback—and generate more feedback. It gives readers the opportunity to

respond to printed stories, letters, points of view, etc., without having to write long-winded replies. Feel free to respond to whatever you see in the magazine. As long as it’s tasteful and non-political, we will be happy to include it. If you want to submit ideas, criticisms, etc. that you prefer not to see in print— with your name attached to it—then we will honor that. Make sure to let us know, though.

Mail your “Return Fire” to the “Feedback Editor” at 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center, FL 33573-7141; E-mail it to: [email protected], or phone it in to (813) 614-1326. Whatever the medium you choose, we welcome your input.

So “Atomic Annie” was in Korea after all?

I served in Korea from November 1952 to June 11, 1953. I

was an MP in Kumwha Valley. We had sixteen miles to patrol,

with a check-point on each end.

Just outside Chunchon, on the road going toward the line, I

was on patrol with a Korean MP. I was asked to escort the

280mm. cannon, aka the atomic cannon. It was some time in the

spring of 1953. As I remember the battery had two units, one with

a cradle on one truck and a gun loaded on the other.

The trucks were too heavy for the bridges, so they had to go

down through streams and rivers.

Charles J. Sommer, 519 MP Bn., Co. A, Forward Platoon, 8th Army, 146 S. 2nd Ave., Mechanicsville, NY 12118,

518-664-8424. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a strong piece of evidence that “Atomic Annie,” aka the atomic cannon, was in Korea during the 1950-53 period. We have been debating its role in the war for a couple years, and the discussion is at the center of the fast-selling book, “Atomic Cannons and Nuclear Weapons: A Mystery of the Korean War.” You can order your signed copy by sending $22 to: Arthur G. Sharp, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center, FL 33573. The $22 includes the cost of the book, shipping, and handling. The author donates $2 from each purchase price to the Wall of Remembrance Fund.

“Ike’s” visit to Korea

The “Atomic Cannons and Nuclear Weapons: A Mystery of

the Korean War” account of President-elect Eisenhower’s visit to

Korea in 1952 brings to mind an amusing story that took place

when he landed there. His arrival at the airport in Korea was

scheduled for 10 a.m. He was flying in aboard a small plane, and

the weather was frigid. In typical Army fashion the troops and the

band assigned to greet him were assembled at 6 a.m.

They were standing in the cold for hours. The band members

had to disassemble instruments to keep them warm. Some of

them placed parts under their armpits, a la the Tootsie Rolls used

to plug bullet holes by the Marines at Chosin Reservoir, to protect

them.

Ten a.m. arrived; “Ike” didn’t. The troops continued to freeze

until 11:30 a.m., when his plane finally appeared on the horizon.

The musicians hastily reassembled their instruments and pre-

pared to greet Ike.

They “struck up the band” as the president-elect stepped off

the plane. The effects on the instruments were highly noticeable.

What the band members produced was as far from music as an L-

6 plane was from a B-29. It was cacophonous, like a three-piece

kindergarten band equipped with kazoos would sound playing a

Beethoven symphony.

They tried, but all everyone could do was laugh. That included

“Ike,” who may have been laughing loudest of all—but not

enough to drown out the band.

As told by former Stars & Stripes reporter Bob Black, a 2d ID

.57mm Recoilless Rifleman during the Korean War.

In North Korea by accident

I enjoyed reading Atomic Cannons and Nuclear Weapon: A

Mystery of the Korean War. It was quite interesting. I was with

several artillery units, but I never saw “Atomic Annie.”

I was in Korea 1951-52 and my job kept me moving all over

the peninsula, including North Korea twice—once by accident. I

often wondered about atomic weapons of some sort in Korea but,

of course, never knew about where or if—and I guess I still don’t

for sure.

Herbert J. Lakebrink, 323 Marguerite St., Union, MO 63084

Was there germ warfare in Korea?

I enjoyed reading your book. I didn`t realize that there was

more than one atomic cannon and half of our chapter members

didn`t even know that there was such a thing.

I know that you are a very busy person and you do a great job

with the “Graybeards,” but I wondered in your searches for mate-

rial if you ever found anything on germ warfare. I took my basic

training in 1952 at Fort Campbell, KY, where there was an area

called the “Birdcage’ with four rows of barbwire around it. The

rumor was that they were working on germ warfare to be used in

Korea. I always wondered about that.

George Piggott, President, Tri – State Chapter 126, [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE: If anyone has information about germ war-fare in the Korean War, please let us know. We hear sometimes about ABC training for troops during the war. Why would such training be provided if there weren’t a reason for it? Could atom-ic, biological, or chemical agents have been responsible for the deaths of the Chinese soldiers referenced below? Who knows?

59


To MIA families

When Ethel Meininger ordered a copy of Atomic Cannons…

she included a heartwarming note aimed the families of MIA per-

sonnel that she wrote in March 2015. She speaks from firsthand

experience. Her husband James was a U.S. Marine who served

with H/1/1, 1st Marine Division. He was MIA but located even-

tually at Oakland Naval Hospital. He was the only survivor of a

battle in Korea.

She wrote:

Think of him as being on a long, rough journey In the storms the seas were rough But then they calmed as he drifted around Then he saw the land in the distance Was it real? There you are waiting on the land Your table was set, waiting for his return home Many years later—over 60 years. He will not tell you the whole story But he has returned Be at peace.

Ethel Meininger, 5424 Woodruff Farm Rd. Apt. B210, Columbus, GA 31907, 970-461-1248

Divine intervention?

The May-June 2018 issue of “The Graybeards” was one of the

most interesting ever. I’ve been very active, as you know, in

debunking a number of outrageous statements in letters in past

issues, but I’m stymied by the quote from Hub Gray’s book.

There’s no way I can accept this scenario as reality, but so much

detail is provided it is not easy for me to call it pure fantasy.

There is no reasonable explanation for the scene as described.

“Divine intervention” is ludicrous. Even instant freezing is not an

option. Is this a credible writer? If this was witnessed by so many

men why has there been no publicity? I’m in a quandary as many

readers must be also. This is the strangest account I’ve ever seen

in any issue of “The Graybeards.”

The excerpt from Hub Gray’s book describing the phantas-

magoria involving the 56 dead Chinese soldiers defies the imag-

ination. It is reminiscent of Hieronoymus Bosch’s paintings of

hell or some of Edgar Allan Poe’s works.

In the past this inveterate skeptic has had little difficulty

debunking outrageous statements, but in this case it is not as easy

because of the minute details provided in the description. Neither

my friends nor I have been able to supply a reasonable explana-

tion for this ghastly scenario, so I am forced to challenge its

authenticity and label it as a gigantic hoax. It lacks plausibility on

its face.

I emailed the author for more information and have not

received a reply. I question the statement that these men could be

“sitting at attention.” What happened to the officer’s internal

organs? Why would the Chinese create such a special unit? The

CO, though dead, was apparently still standing, a remarkable

feat.

Was the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry unique in

not having access to a combat photographer who could have

recorded the scene for posterity?

But the clincher for me was the disclosure that there was no

mention of the incident in the unit diary, an unforgivable omis-

sion if that had happened. Word of this eerie scene, allegedly wit-

nessed by an entire platoon, would have spread throughout the

regiment and beyond and could not have escaped the media.

Nothing in my over nine decades of life has prepared me to

accept something like this as possible. If someone on LSD had

described it for me, I would be inclined to believe his report, but

when someone purportedly sober describes it, that is another

matter.

The best one can say is that it might qualify as low-grade fic-

tion.

Bob Hall, [email protected] EDITOR’S COMMENT: What can I say? I agree that the story sounds strange. But, I cannot refute what the writer, who fought with the Canadians in Korea, recounted. That is one of the rea-sons we print such accounts in The Graybeards: to solicit read-ers’ opinions, information, rebuttals, substantiations et al. I am not going to reject out of hand what a veteran wrote. I can only hope that other veterans clarify, corroborate, refute...And, such stories are great for generating feedback.

Re: The Meaning of the Flag-Draped coffin

The article which appeared in the May-June 2018 issue may

lead some readers to believe that 21 gun salutes are a routine part

of military funerals, when this honor is actually reserved for vis-

iting heads of state, royalty, and other designated dignitaries and

occasions.

Military funerals often include a seven-member rifle team fir-

ing three volleys, which is largely misconstrued as a 21-gun

salute.

It could also be noted that most non-cremated human remains

today are placed in caskets, not coffins. A coffin is an eight-sided

container, widest at the shoulders and narrowest at the feet.

Needless to say, a flag would not drape well over a coffin.

Don Barnes, [email protected]

Clearing the air after the 21-gun salute

I dispute some of the facts in your article about the flag-

draped coffin and the 21-gun salute. I have served on the Moline

[IL] American Legion Honor Guard for over 15 years. We have

always fired only three times at military funerals, not a 21-gun

salute. Yes, 1776 adds up to 21, but that is not the reason to

believe we do 21-gun salutes at each funeral.

I consider firing 21 times is wrong. We only fire three times,

regardless of the number of people participating as Honor Guard.

Lucius J. Vargas, 3709 26th St., Moline, IL NOTE: Mr. Vargas is correct. The idea of 1776 adds up to 21 is rebutted by snopes.com, for example. “The 21-gun salute is often confused with the symbolic act of fir-ing three volleys at military funerals, but these are two complete-ly different rituals. The “21-gun salute” is, as the name states, a salute (i.e., an expression of welcome, goodwill, or respect), and

60


in that context the word “gun” refers to naval guns or artillery pieces (typically cannon), not firearms. The firing of three (rifle) volleys at military funerals is technically not a salute, but a fune-real custom, perhaps derived from a superstition of discharging firearms to frighten evil spirits away from the grave, or possibly a recreation of the act of firing three volleys to signal the end of a temporary truce (called to allow each side to clear their dead and wounded from the battlefield). Even when a military funeral detail includes seven members (each of whom fires his rifle a total of three times), this ritualistic act is something distinctly dif-ferent and separate from the custom of saluting dignitaries by fir-ing 21 guns in their honor.” (See https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/21-gun-salute/:)

Barbara Mikkelson While we are on the subject we will add a couple other pieces

of history from the Arlington National Cemetery website.

Practice of firing three rifle volleys over the grave: This practice originated in the old custom of halting the fight-

ing to remove the dead from the battlefield. Once each army had

cleared its dead, it would fire three volleys to indicate that the

dead had been cared for and that they were ready to go back to

the fight. The fact that the firing party consists of seven riflemen

firing three volleys does not constitute a 21-gun salute.

Origin of the 21-Gun Salute The tradition of saluting can be traced to the Middle Ages

practice of placing oneself in an unarmed position and, therefore,

in the power of those being honored. The cannon salute might

have originated in the 17th century with the maritime practice of

demanding that a defeated enemy expend its ammunition and

render itself helpless until reloaded — a time-consuming opera-

tion in that era.

In the Anglo-Saxon Empire, seven guns was a recognized

naval salute, seven being the standard number of weapons on a

vessel. Because more gunpowder could be stored on dry land,

forts could fire three rounds for every one fired from sea, hence

the number 21. With the improvement of naval gunpowder, hon-

ors rendered at sea were increased to 21 as well.

Beginning in our colonial period, the United States fired one

shot for each state in the Union. This was continued until 1841

when it was reduced to 21 from 26. Although it had been in use

for more than 30 years, the 21-gun salute was not formally adopt-

ed until Aug. 18, 1875. This was at the suggestion of the British,

who proposed a ‘Gun for Gun Return’ to their own 21-gun salute.

Origin of the 21-Gun International Salute All personal salutes may be traced to the prevailing use in ear-

lier days: to ensure that the saluter placed himself in an unarmed

position, and virtually in the power of the saluted. This may be

noted in the dropping of the point of the sword, presenting arms,

firing cannon and small arms, lowering sails, manning the yards,

removing the headdress or laying on oars.

Salute by gunfire is an ancient ceremony. The British for years

compelled weaker nations to render the first salute; but in time,

international practice compelled ‘gun for gun’ on the principle of

equality of nations. In the earliest days, seven guns was the rec-

ognized British national salute.

Here again we see that the number seven had a mystical signif-

icance. In the Eastern civilization, seven was a sacred number:

astronomy listed the seven planets, the moon changed every

seven days, the earth was created in seven days, every seventh

year was a sabbatical year, and the seven times seventh year was

a jubilee year.

Those early regulations stated that although a ship would fire

only seven guns, the forts ashore could fire three shots (again the

mystical three) to each one shot afloat. In that day, powder of

sodium nitrate was easier to keep on shore than at sea. In time,

when the quality of gunpowder improved by the use of potassium

nitrate, the sea salute was made equal to the shore salute; 21 guns

as the highest national honor.

Although for a period of time, monarchies received more guns

than republics, eventually republics gained equality. There was

much confusion because of the varying customs of maritime

states, but finally the British government proposed to the United

States a regulation that provided for ‘salutes to be returned gun for

gun.’ The British at that time officially considered the internation-

al salute (to sovereign states) to be 21 guns, and the United States

adopted the 21 guns and ‘gun for gun’ return, Aug.18, 1875.

Previous to this time our national salute had been variable: one

gun for each state of the Union. This practice was partly a result

of usage, for John Paul Jones saluted France with 13 guns at

Quiberon Bay in 1778 when the Stars and Stripes received its first

salute. The practice was not officially authorized until 1810.

When India was part of the British empire, the king-emperor

would receive an Imperial salute of 101 guns. Unless rendered to

a president or the flag of a republic, 21 guns is called a Royal

Salute in the British Isles, and even then it is called (colloquially)

‘royal’ in the British Commonwealth. In short, it would be said of

the president of the United States, if saluted in Canada, that he

received a ‘royal salute.’

The United States also has an extra-special ceremony known

as the ‘Salute to the Nation,’ which consists of one gun for each

of the 50 states. The mimic war is staged only at noon on the

Fourth of July at American military ports, although it has been

given on a few other occasions, such as the death of a president.

The Navy full-dresses ships and fires 21 guns at noon on the

Fourth of July and Feb. 22. On Memorial Day, all ships and naval

stations fire a salute of 21-minute guns and display the ensign at

half-mast from 8:00 a.m. until completion of the salute.

*Retired Navy Vice Adm. Leland P. Lovette, Naval Customs

Traditions and Usages, 4th ed., (Banta Co: Menasha, Wisconsin,

1960).

And the debate goes on.

Re Captain Stamford

I have a few comments on the article. I served with the Tank

Company 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th ID from August 1951 to

March 1952. At this time there were no survivors of the Chosin

campaign left in the regiment. Receiving a message that there was

a 32nd Association in 1989 I became a member and was happy to

join a meeting with many survivors of Chosin, including Ed

Stamford, who became a very dear friend who discussed the

61


events and his survival in Nov - Dec ‘50.

He was a Marine’s Marine, but attended only the reunions of

the 32nd Infantry Regiment and not the Marines reunions. He said

to me, “This is my outfit.”

A few corrections: ‘27,000 7th Division troops dug in for the

night.’ The 7th ID had a head count of 16,000 troops that included

6,000 KATUSA that were untried, untrained fillers for the divi-

sion. The 1st Marine Division had an over-strength head count of

25,000 that General O P Smith kept so tightly grouped in his reg-

iments that he refused to release them to assist the 3,288-menber

Task Force Faith in its surrounded position across the Chosin

Reservoir. The 17th Infantry Regiment was at the Yalu River on

the China border, so it could offer no assistance.

Thank God for Ed Stamford and his TACP calling in Marine

Corsairs to support the Task Force. In the end the Task Force suf-

fered 90 percent casualties and in a Morning Report in January at

Taegu there were only about 100 fit for duty.”

I have attached a letter from Ed Stamford after he and his wife

attended the graduation of my Marine grandson, Ryan

MacDonald, and a photos of his three Marines and one of

Stamford. By the way, he received an upgrade from the Silver Star

to a Distinguished Service Cross. He deserved the MOH, but the

Marines would not allow it.

Major Gen Field Harris, USMC commander of 1st Marine Air

Wing, FMF, wrote to BG Henry Hodes USA saying that Captain

Stamford, “rated a top notch decoration and it looked to me pretty

close to MOH.” This was approved by the AG Dept. of Army who

passed it on. The Department of Navy became involved and the

award became immersed in red tape. The award system could not

handle the proposal of Marine Air Wing via Marine and Army

Departments, so Hq X Corps gave Stamford a Silver Star in 22

July 1951. Later, the award was the DSC.

The real reason was the Marine Corps’ battle over actions and

events at Chosin in which a Navy Chaplain publicly stated that the

Army forces were cowards and set off a fire storm of accusations

on both sides.

(See https://www.facebook.com/warreng.macdonald.98/videos/ 233365737410767/ for an interesting video on all of this.)

Warren G MacDonald, [email protected]

Dad and me in the same issue?

Thank you. I was pleased to see our Chapter 305 pictures in the

May-June 2018 issue, but when I read the news items of Chapter

321 (WA), I was surprised and even more pleased to notice a gen-

tleman sitting to the left of their HF participants photo and then to

him again, sitting to left of the newly elected officers as their 1st

Vice Commander. The gentleman looked familiar and I noticed a

family resemblance. Sure enough, the man is my 98-year old dad,

Merle Osborne!

I called him and we had good laugh that we both got a moment

of fame together on the pages of The Graybeards. Just a little FYI

trivia for you.

Thanks for all you do for the Association and the magazine,

which I consider the premiere of all veteran publications!

Larry Osborne, Secretary, Ch. 305, Carson City, NV, baag-man@msncom

Bad Info

The story on page 44/45 about San Francisco has some bad

info. (See “Because I love you, pp. 44-45, May-June 2018.)

It was another John Stevens that got a Navy Cross. I did not.

Two Bronze Stars was my record. Also, I was one of three people

who was responsible for the Memorial in San Francisco. Last, I

am only 97 years old, not 98, as reported.

John Stevens, [email protected]

U.S. Military Combat Veterans Defined

I am a long time member of KWVA and avid reader. I got

interested in this subject several years ago when my VFW post

began selling caps with names like Vietnam Combat Veteran and

Korea Combat Veteran. The implication was that anyone who

served in the military at that time was a combat veteran. I felt

such an assumption belittled the service of those who actually

faced the enemy. It led me to investigate and resulted in the infor-

mation presented below.

w w w

“There’s a mystic bond of brotherhood that binds warriors who have shared the experience of combat. No matter what branch of service, what engagement, or of what duration, when a warrior engages the enemy in combat he touches a place in his soul that has no equal. Gen. Douglas MacArthur said, “The soldier (marine, sailor, airman) above all men is required to practice the greatest act of religious training...sacrifice. No matter how horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who offers and gives his life for his country is the noblest development of mankind.” For many this ultimate of life’s challenges is not something sought after or relished. Especially in wars past many were drafted into the military and assigned to the front. With reluctance they took up arms to face an enemy. They recognized an obligation to serve their coun-try, and for those who passed the test of fire they developed a sense of patriotic pride which is in a class by itself. Today’s warriors are volunteers who feel a sense of duty to serve and are willing to take on whatever comes their way. However, this doesn’t make it any easier to face the ultimate test where their life is in imminent danger. Also, unlike past engagements, now multiple tours are more commonplace. Regrettably, the designation Combat Veteran is loosely applied in media and often by veterans themselves. However, the Combat Veteran is one who is specifically defined by and recognized by each branch of service by criteria which must be met. Army - After the U.S. declaration of war in 1941, the U.S. Army had difficulty recruiting infantry volunteers, unlike its other more glam-orous branches (e.g. Tank Corps and the Army Air Forces). To increase recruitment and raise esprit de corps, General Lesley J. McNair, Army Ground Forces commander, conceived of a large rec-ognizable combat service badge for the infantry ranks. On 7 October 1943, the War Department formally established the Combat Infantryman Badge. The CIB is the U.S. Army’s combat service recognition awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below—who personally fought in active ground combat while assigned to either an infantry or a Special Forces unit of brigade size or smaller any time after 6 December 1941.

62


The U.S. Army also recognizes the combat service of medics with the Combat Medical Badge (CMB), awarded to medical personnel who serve alongside infantry units, and the Combat Action Badge (CAB), awarded to combat units other than Infantry (Armor, Cavalry, Field Artillery). This includes combat support and combat service support soldiers who served in combat in contemporary wars with-out delineated front lines. The CAB was created in 2005 for soldiers who otherwise qualify for neither the CIB nor the CMB. Navy/Marines/Coast Guard - The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard, which is awarded to those in any grade, including and below that of a Captain in the Navy and Coast Guard or Colonel in the Marine Corps, who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. To be awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the individual must have rendered satisfactory performance under enemy fire. The Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard also recognize the combat service of corpsmen with the Combat Medical Badge (CMB), awarded to med-ical personnel who serve alongside combat units. Air Force - The Air Force Combat Action Medal (CAM) is a relatively new medal issued by the United States Air Force. It was first awarded on June 12, 2007 for actions from September 11, 2001 to a date to be determined and may be awarded posthumously. For the purposes of this award, the combat conditions are met when defending the perimeter to conduct official duties, either ground or air, and come under enemy attack by lethal weapons while perform-ing those duties, and are at risk of grave danger. Individual(s) who are defending the base (on the defended perimeter) and come under fire and engage the enemy with direct and lethal fire and are at risk of grave danger also meet the intent of combat conditions for the award. Also, personnel in ground operations who actively engage the enemy with direct and lethal fire may qualify even if no direct fire is taken, as long as there was risk of grave danger and other criteria are met. Central to the integrity of this combat recognition is the adherence to these combat conditions prerequisites. There are also other Air Force combat awards, such as the Air Medal.

David Valley is a Korean War veteran and holder of the CIB.

Thousands of combat veterans wear distinctive bracelets of their

awards, which David designed for the Sektor Company. They

include the CIB, CMB, CAB, and CAR. His email is

[email protected]

A picture of the Boxer please

Whoa! Don’t you guys have at least one photo of USS Boxer

(CV-21) in your files? I’m referring to the May-June 2018 issue

of The Graybeards, “Korean War drones from an aircraft carrier.”

She at least deserved a little photo of launching those F6F

Hellcats.

That “Mighty 21” was my home for those years off the North

Korean coasts. And, by the way, the navy almost lost Boxer on

August 5, 1952 due to an on-board fire. Just ask those photogra-

phers on USS Essex (CV-9). I’m sure one of those guys would

lend you a photo of my beloved ship.

William (“Bill”) Herrera, 2205 7th Street, Apt. 168, Rapid City, SD 57701

EDITOR’S NOTE: Like Mr. Herrera, I spent many hours

aboard Boxer, then LPH-4. But, my duties were a little different

I am sure. After the Korean War the Navy turned over four Essex

class carriers to the Marine Corps: Boxer, Essex, Princeton, and

Iwo Jima. Boxer was modified and reclassified Amphibious

Assault Ship (Helicopter) (LPH-4) on 30 January 1959. It sailed

from Norfolk, VA to Vieques, Puerto Rico about that time with

elements of 3rd Bn. 8th Regt., 2nd Marine Division aboard. I was

one of those elements.

Our job was to refine helicopter assault missions. We would

load aboard choppers on Boxer’s flight deck, “invade” Vieques,

return to Boxer via landing craft, climb up to its hangar deck on

nets, go up to the flight deck, board choppers, “re-invade”

Vieques…repeat after me.

Then, in April 1961 we boarded Boxer again for a float to

Vieques, with a side excursion to the Bay of Pigs fiasco. As I

learned later, Boxer and other U.S. Navy warships were to serve

as a decoy to make Castro and his minions think we were landing

away from the Bay of Pigs site. Apparently the feint did not

work.

The day of the botched invasion we were awakened at 0200,

fed the traditional last USMC meal of steak and eggs, issued live

ammo, and assigned to battle departure stations. Then, around

0600 we received orders to stand down. We were one angry—but

well fed—group of U.S. Marines who no doubt would have

changed the course of history if we had been allowed to carry out

our original mission.

And, the stand-down had to be a disappointment to the local

USS Boxer (CV-21) at sea (1945)

The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) prepares to launch Australian S70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters during flight operations.

63


fish, who were no doubt anticipating a steak-and-egg breakfast of

their own provided by U.S. Marines bobbing around the sea in

landing craft.

The bottom line is that I spent a lot of time aboard Boxer, but

I never knew its history. I was too busy enjoying free helicopter

rides to Vieques to read about it. And I have often wondered how

history would have changed if President Kennedy had decided to

let us land in Cuba instead of aborting the mission.

Another 90-day wonder with no clue

Note the nearby photo in which I am pointing toward the

enemy. It also shows my feeble attempt at breaking up our pro-

file, because we were on an exposed ridge.

One day our battery commander showed up and introduced

our new platoon leader, a brand new 90-day wonder. No big deal,

right? Wrong! The next day the new platoon leader appeared

alone—and displayed his complete lack of knowledge about

camouflage.

“Take away all of this brush,” he said.

I explained to him my reasoning for its presence, to no avail.

So my crew reluctantly did away with brush and tidied up the

area. Then the 90-day wonder started berating me because the

exterior of our half-track was dirty and dusty. He was adamant

about our track being a mess.

I explained to him why our half-track was dusty and dirty.

Once again my reasoning was of no interest to him. So, we got

out some rags, added a bit of oil to a gasoline-filled can, and

wiped down our half-track with the mixture. And there we had a

clean half-track exposed to everyone within seeing distance—

including the enemy.

I was upset about this, to say the least. When he left, smugly

satisfied, I got on the phone to his commander and vented my

anger about this 90-day wonder, telling him that this new officer

doesn’t seem to realize that we are in a war zone. That ended my

first “go round” with this 90-day wonder.

Round Two The young lieutenant and another officer showed up one after-

noon after we were ordered to prepare for a fire mission. There

was an enemy sniper on a ridge some place close to us. Our

orders were to provide covering fire to an infantry unit that was

going to sneak up on the sniper. So, we prepared the half-track to

move out.

Our orders were to make sure the turret and Quad-50s were

ready for use and then stand by. While we were waiting for more

orders, our 90-day wonder told us to police all the brass when the

mission is done.

I looked at him and said, “Sir, if you want the brass, you can

pick it up—sir!” Then I turned and went to my real business,

which was to look out for my crew.

The 90-day wonder got very red in the face. Fortunately for

me the mission was canceled. But, a couple months later I gave

him the pleasure of “busting” me for missing the morning roll

call. Gee, in the army less than a year and I am a private again.

Luckily we survived our 90-day wonder—and the war.

Marvin Reed, 2900 Right Hand Canyon Road, Reno, NV 89510

A BLT and a chocolate milk shake

On our return home from Korea in 1952 our ship put in to

shore at Hawaii. We were allowed liberty for a few hours. (Yay!)

Four of us from the same battalion (2nd, 15th Inf. Regt.) took

a cab to Waikiki Beach, where we had some lunch. Our goal was

to order something we missed most while in Korea. I ordered a

BLT and a chocolate milkshake. M/Sgt Carl Sichar ordered the

same.

In a recent conversation with Carl (now a retired LtCol) I

asked him if he remembered what we had for lunch back in 1952.

He replied with a chuckle, “A BLT and a chocolate milkshake.”

What remarkable remembrances—66 years later—as we stroll

down Memory Lane.

Incidentally, the other two men present were SSgt Fred Tabler

and MSgt E. Storm.

Paul Roach, Co. G, 2nd Bn., 15th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div., 3751 Hummingbird Lane, Roanoke, VA 24018

To be delivered to North Korea, no extra charge

The nearby picture shows me in Korea in 1965 next to a 500-

pound bomb to be loaded under the fuselage of a Sky Raider,

along with another twelve 250-pound bombs under the wings.

They were all ready to be delivered to North Korea with no extra

Paul M. Roach on Waikiki

FB-8 Marvin Reed pointing at the enemy

64


charges involved, compli-

ments of VMA-121 helicop-

ter squadron.

GySgt (ret) Albert Pule, 4894 Upper River Rd.,

Grants Pass, OR 97526

Tales of two 1st

Sergeants

I was in Korea as a cook

and baker in 1952-53. Our

company had to move more

than once. I was surprised on

one of those moves when our

1st Sergeant told us we would

be pulling guard duty on the

train as we traveled. We had

never pulled guard duty

before, and it only happened

once.

We had to sit on the box cars, keep our eyes open for viaducts,

bridges, etc., and lie flat when going under said objects. I have no

idea what his name was, but I do know he didn’t stay in the com-

pany long. I don’t think he liked cooks.

Then there was the time I almost got busted by a sandwich.

Being a cook and baker, there were times I worked the night shift.

(I was in Co. B, 19th Engineer Construction Bn.) Any soldiers

coming into the mess hall while I was on duty who asked if there

was anything to eat got fed. I would check to see what was avail-

able and many times made them sandwiches. I figured that if the

fixings were available there was no reason not to.

I was pretty naïve. One evening the 1st Sergeant came in and

said we had a problem. Sandwiches were being sold on the black

market. He gave me a chance to own up to what was going on

and I did. I apologized and told him that I didn’t know the sol-

diers were selling the sandwiches. No one had told me that was

happening. I also told the sergeant the soldiers would not get any

more sandwiches on my shift—and they didn’t.

The 1st Sergeant could have come in and jumped all over me,

but he didn’t. I appreciated that. Hey, where else were they get-

ting the sandwiches but at the mess hall?

I guess my admission about the sandwiches worked. I did not

receive any kind of reprimand.

Dominic Curcuru, Sr., 36 Oxford Dr., Washington, MO 63090, 636-239-0278

Oh, those tremendous Turks

In the May-June issue there was an article by Byron Sims list-

ing the nations that fought in the Korean War. One of them was

Turkey, which contributed some 5,453 troops.

Half of my outfit in Japan was immediately sent to Korea days

after the invasion on June 25, 1950. During the months after that

date many of my returning buddies told me outstanding stories

about the Turks. Simply put, they all told the same story.

Those Turks kicked the hell out of anyone they encountered.

They were feared greatly by their enemies. I would like to know

if others shared the same viewpoint about the Turks. All the sol-

diers from every country were heroes—but those Turks had a

reputation for being an especially crazy bunch.

Albert D. Crawford, 135 High Barney Rd., Middletown, NY

10940

Why there aren’t many Chosin Reservoir survivors

I couldn’t help but notice the article “Let’s Hear it for

WWII/Korean Veterans” in the March-April 2018 issue, p. 75. As

a recalled Marine Corps veteran with four years of prior service

I have to agree with my old friend Warren Wiedhahn that there

are not many survivors of the Chosin reservoir battle. I would be

surprised if there are more than 2,500.

The average age of a Chosin Reservoir participant must have

been in the mid-20s. The 1st Marine Division in particular was

fleshed out with senior NCOs and officer corps veterans from

WWII, many of whom were combat tested. This fact alone was

the primary reason the 1st Marine Division was so exemplary in

its combat effectiveness. It was, without question, the most lethal

combat unit ever fielded.

Ironically, the Korean War saved the Marine Corps from

extinction, as Truman, Bradley, Marshall, Eisenhower, Spaatz,

Collins, and Secretary of Defense Johnson all conspired in 1947

to destroy the Marine Corps with their “Unification Act.”

John Mixon, B Co., 1st Tank Bn., 1st Marine Division 6311 Barcelona Dr., Bakersfield, CA 93306

EDITOR’S NOTE: Technically the Unification Act saved the

U.S. Marine Corps. The National Security Act of 1947, as it was

known, was a major restructuring of the United States govern-

ment’s military and intelligence agencies following World War

II. The majority of the provisions of the Act took effect on

September 18, 1947, the day after the Senate confirmed James

Forrestal as the first Secretary of Defense.

The Act merged the Department of War (renamed as the

Department of the Army) and the Department of the Navy into

the National Military Establishment (NME), headed by the

Secretary of Defense. It also created the Department of the Air

Force and the United States Air Force, which separated the Army

Air Forces into its own service. It also protected the Marine

Corps as an independent service, under the Department of the

Navy.

Aside from the military reorganization, the act established the

National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency,

the U.S.’s first peacetime non-military intelligence agency.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_SecurityAct_of_1947

What a way to celebrate New Year’s Eve

I enlisted in the United States Air Force in September 1951. I

had lost three high school classmates during the early stages of

the Korean War. I took my basic training at Sampson Air Base,

NY. Following basic I went to Lowry AB, CO for B-29 gunnery

school. I was then sent to Randolph Air Base, TX, where we were

assigned to bomber crews.

After ground school and several training flights we went to

Forbes Air Base, KS for survival training. We received our orders

Albert Pule next to a 500-pound bomb

65


to go to Okinawa, arriving at Kadena Air Base in late November

1952. We were assigned to the 20th AF, 19th Bomb Group, 93rd

Bomb Squadron.We flew our first combat mission in early

December 1952. All our missions were flown at night due to

enemy action during the day.Our crew was named lead crew for

the squadron. We carried the Airborne Commander on all mis-

sions.

On December 31st (New

Year’s Eve) we were assigned

to fly the only mission that

night. It was called a primer

mission, flying up and down

the front lines bombing targets

of opportunity. After 27 combat

missions we returned to the

states. As the B-29s were out of

service, our crew was disband-

ed and we went our separate

ways.

I was sent to Aircraft

Mechanics School at Sheppard

Air Base, TX. Following

school, I was sent to Hamilton

Air Base, CA. I was assigned to 4754th Rader Evaluation Flight,

where I finished my tour in September 1955

Lawrence F. Crone, 237 Washington Circle, Lake Forest, IL. 60045

Sure, why not?

Steven Anderson contacted our KWVA webpage and asked if

his father-in-law’s picture from Korea was of interest and could

be published. His father-in-law, Ron Bestland, is deceased and

Steve wanted to do this for his wife and mother-in-law.

I am not personally familiar with any of them but thought I

would send it to you for consideration.

Al McCarthy NOTE: We are always happy to publish such photos. Some of our members may recognize the subjects—or themselves!

Recon Missions WAYNE DONALD AUSTIN A friend of my uncle, Wayne Donald Austin, provided me with an arti-cle from The Graybeards. I would like to know if you could research the archives to determine if there is any information on my uncle. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Hoengsong, Korea in 1951, and his remains have never been found. He was attached to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (A CO 1 BN). All my uncle’s brothers and sisters have passed, and my five broth-ers and I have very little information about Wayne. Since I am not considered next of kin, I have not been successful in obtaining his service record as of this time. Any help you could provide in obtain-ing his records or information about him would be greatly appreciat-ed. Kenneth C. Austin, USN (Ret.), CAD/GIS Specialist, PWD Mayport,

Planning Dept., 904-270-3177, [email protected]

EDWARD IVANHOE I am hoping you would be able to find a soldier named Edward Ivanhoe from Topeka, Kansas. During the Korean War he was serving

in the city of lncheon, where General MacArthur landed with his troops. This soldier spoke Korean fluently and showed us a real kindness from his heart. We appreciated it profoundly. I have never forgotten about his kindness that he planted in our lives and hearts. Now that I am getting very old I would like to find a way to thank him, if he is still alive. Please give me good news that he is still alive and tell me how I can contact him. Thank you very much for your prompt attention. June S. Choi, 3333 Henry Hudson Parkway #21C,

Bronx, NY 10463, 347 638 4729

CAPTAIN RAWSON I am looking for Captain Rawson, Company Commander of Co. A., 19th Inf. Regt., 24th Inf. Div. He was relieved of duty in Korea in October 1951. I was in the 4th Platoon, 60mm. mortars. I would appreciate any information. Fred R. Liberman, 510 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY Apt. 2G, 11218,

718-871-4761, [email protected]

Lawrence F. Crone in front of a B-29 at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

We have no info about the unit or individuals. Here are the names: (Front L-R) Andy, Adams, Captain Laughlin, Head, and Tucker. (Back) Merke, Shields, Fitrakis, Ronald Bestland, White, Hawkins, Collins.

66


67


Background The Korea Revisit program was begun by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA/Seoul) in 1975 for the 25th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War to express the Republic of Korea (ROK’s) government’s gratitude to Korean War veterans and their families also to show them the bountiful results of their sacrifices and devotion. MPVA’s Eligibility Requirements Korean War Veterans who served in or supported ground, naval, or air operations in the Korean Theater between June 25, 1950 and October 15, 1954. Family members of deceased or disabled Veterans are eligi-ble to participate in the "Korea Revisit Program." An eligible applicant is allowed to bring a family member or friend as a “travel companion.” Korea Defense Veterans (1945 – Jun 24, 1950 and Oct 16, 1954 – present) are eligible to go when Korean War Veterans are not available. Expanded Eligibility 1. For the 65th anniversaries (2015-19) there will be more quotas avail-able. In addition, those who have been on a Revisit prior to 2011 can apply to return again. (Call MHT for more details) 2. Widows and family members of deceased veterans or those unable to travel are also eligible for the Revisit as Veteran Representatives. 3. Korea Defense Veterans who served in Korea during these periods (1945 – Jun 24, 1950 and Oct 16, 1954 – present) are eligible to return on a space available basis TBD by the MPVA and the ROK criteria. Benefits & Schedule 1. Free hotel accommodations for the veteran their companion or vet-eran representatives, meals for 5 nights and 6 days in Seoul for 2 peo-ple. If you want to bring more people you may at your expense. 2. Accommodations are based on (2) persons per room, if you want a single hotel room you may at your own expense. All of the above items need to be requested in writing. 3. Tours of Seoul and its vicinity, banquet hosted by the MPVA and KVA with presentation of the “Ambassador for Peace” medal, tours of the DMZ, Pan-Mun-Jom, War Memorial Museum, and National Cemetery. Typical Korea Revisit Itierary Day 1: Fly to Korea. Day 2: Arrival day Incheon Airport, ROK check into Seoul Hotel. Day 3 - Tribute Ceremony at the “Korean National Cemetery”, visit to the Korean War Memorial.

Day 4 - Visit Panmunjom, DMZ, Joint Security Area, Camp Bonifas & wreath laying. Day 5 - Ceremony for Korean War Veterans & Display/Show. Day 6 - Visit tour of “Korean Folk Village” and shopping op-portunity. Banquet hosted by MPVA and KVA. Day 7 - Depart Korea or begin post-tour extensions. Sundry Tour Requirements 1. The MPVA Revisit Program privileges are provided for scheduled groups only. 2. Participants are required to have a valid passport that does not expire until 6 months after return to the USA. 3. Neither MPVA Seoul nor MHT Virginia U.S.A is responsible for any loss of or damage to personal or other items; medical expenses, injuries or loss of life due to any accident of whatever nature during the Revisit tours. 4. Medical and Evacuation Insurance is required by MPVA for all vet-erans, companions or veteran representatives. Insurance costs are included in the admin service charge for Korea only. 5. Roundtrip transportation costs to Korea are not included and will be borne by each person who participates in the program. The partici-pants must purchase roundtrip airfare, the ROK government will sub-sidize air costs (approximately 50% Veterans and 30% Companions.) The refunded airfare reimbursement will be calculated by the ROK after all the revisits. The reimbursement will be sent in a lump sum to be distributed by MHT for the entire year’s groups. 6. Applications will be received/accepted on a “First-come, first-served” basis. 7. Use of frequent flyer miles or other “free” transportation is allowed, but the administrative nonrefundable service fee of $450.00 per per-son is still required for the insurance, tour leaders and administration costs. 8. The initial $50 per person registration fee that is required for postage, printing, phone charges, file maintenance and personnel staffing to manage the Korea Revisit Programs is not refundable. The remainder of the nonrefundable Service Fee ($400) will not be charged until the participant has selected his Korea Revisit (KR) dates on the KR Preference Sheet that will be mailed in March-April as part of the KR Handbook.

Death Notice of a Member of KWVA

The following notice is submitted for publication:

Name of deceased ____________________________________________________

Date of death __________________Year of Birth__________________________

Member #______________________Chapter ______________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________

r Army r Navy r Marine Corps r Air Force r Coast Guard

Primary Unit of service during Korean War ______________________________________

Submitted by ________________________________________________________

Relationship to deceased ______________________________________________

Send to: Membership, P.O. Box 407, Charleston, IL 61920-0407

All Chapter and/or Department news for publication in The Graybeards should be mailed to Art Sharp, Editor, 2473 New Haven Circle, Sun City Center, FL 33573 or emailed to: [email protected]

Visit the Korean War

Veterans Association Website:

WWW.KWVA.US

68


Welcome Aboard! New Members of the Korean War Veterans Asssociation

ARIZONA A048556 CYNTHIA C. BORDEAUX R048530 HOMER L. HIMES LR48529 GARY D. PETERSON A048527 HOWARD SIMPSON A048547 JEFF TREPANIER R048531 LLOYD WHITTALL

CALIFORNIA LR48554 ANGEL AVILES R048599 ELZA T. CONWAY JR. LR48594 KUNO C. EDWARDS R048567 DAVID C. FUNDERBURGH R048590 JOSEPH M. KALLA R048585 MELVIN T. KANAI LR48546 MABEL LYTHGOE A048566 DEBRA K. MARTIN LR48565 EUGENE S. MARTIN R048598 KENNETH RAIRDEN R048563 RICHARD L. SHICK R048559 JOSE L. SUAREZ

FLORIDA A048568 JEUNG M. CHOI R048535 KENNETH H. COFFEY R048534 STANLEY COHEN A048552 THOMAS J. DESHLER R048555 FRANKLIN T. IMADO LR48538 KENNETH E. ROTH R048602 JOSEPH R. WEICHMAN

GEORGIA LR48551 WILLIAM S. RHODES

ILLINOIS R048577 ANDREW D. HOMA R048542 THOMAS LUCKEN R048576 R THOMAS ROBERTS

KANSAS R048579 RICHARD S. CROSS

LOUISIANA LR48588 VICTOR L. RICHARD

MAINE LR48593 THOMAS A. CUMMING

MASSACHUSETTS R048532 ANN-MARIE S. GINN

MICHIGAN R048601 RICHARD A. ANDERSON R048571 THOMAS D. NELSON R048570 LEIGH M. STANLEY

MINNESOTA LR48569 THOMAS E. HEFFERNAN R048575 LAWRENCE H. MCKENZIE A048582 WILLIAM D. SCHMIDT R048603 RALPH A. SCHNEEKLOTH

MISSOURI R048583 ROLAND A. DOBSCH R048533 LYDLE E. PARTNEY R048580 TOMY C. WISHON

NEVADA A048543 JUDITH E. ARIOLA A048572 LISANDRA D. CORTESE R048550 DONALD HAN A048573 ALICIA M. PLATTNER-

WHITMORE R048564 LEWIS A. STEIN R048560 BERNARD J. WEBER SR.

NEW JERSEY LR48578 RICHARD L. ALLEN A048537 EDITH P. BOWEN R048536 JOHN T. HALL

NEW YORK R048596 ANTHONY J. HECKEL R048549 WILLIAM E. NAGY R048544 LOUIS M. SALAUN R048586 C MICHAEL WALSH LR48557 JOSEPH J. ZIEGLER

NORTH CAROLINA A048540 FREMONT V. BROWN III LR48539 BRENDA G. PLOSS A048541 LORETTA W. REYNOLDS

OHIO LR48561 DAVID A. MARTIEN R048548 ELMER L. MILLS A048545 MINJOO PARK

OKLAHOMA LR48574 CHARLES E. HENRY

OREGON R048526 BYRON O. BELMONT R048528 RICHARD V. SCHMITZ

PENNSYLVANIA R048581 PETER CAPATAIDES R048584 KARL H. SMITH LR48587 RICHARD W. TIMOTHY R048523 CHESTER E. WISSLER JR.

RHODE ISLAND LR48591 ANTHONY J. CABRAL

SOUTH CAROLINA R048597 CRAIG E. BOWMAN R048592 ERNEST G. LACASSE

TENNESSEE R048562 STEVEN D. FREELONG

TEXAS R048595 CHARLES R. BURT R048524 DON DERRICOTT LR48558 WAYNE D. DIERLAM A048553 PO PAE JASSO R048589 TOMMY RIGMAIDEN

VIRGINIA A048600 CARMEL B. WHETZEL

WISCONSIN A048525 PATRICK CORKRAN

It was no secret that the U.S Navy, like the other branches of the

American armed forces, was unprepared for a major war only five

years after WWII ended. “Adapt, improvise, overcome” became the

mantra of the service. Subsequently, personnel and equipment began

performing tasks that were not normally within their “MOSs.”

Among them was USS Epping Forest (LSD-4).

Epping was launched 2 April 1943 and commissioned 11 October

1943. It participated in several operations toward the end of WWII,

e.g., “After standing by in reserve during the invasions of Tinian and

Saipan it arrived off Guam 21 July [1944] for the assault landings.

For 5 days she lay off the island repairing landing craft and then

returned to Guadalcanal from which she made several voyages to

Manus transporting landing craft through August…

“On 9 January 1945 Epping Forest sent its boats away in the

assault of Lingayen Gulf, working under almost constant air attack.

The next day it got underway for Morotai to reload Army equipment

with which it returned to Lingayen 27 January. For 2 weeks it

repaired landing craft here then put into Leyte on its way to transfer

landing craft from Saipan to Guam and again from Milne Bay to

Leyte arriving 13 March to prepare for the Okinawa assault.”

The ship was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Long

Beach 25 March 1947, until being recommissioned 1 December

1950. Epping sailed along the west coast for training until 21 May

1951 when it departed for the Far East, where it was put to a unique

use for an LSD—and participated in “Operation MIG Swipe.”

Epping Forest supported UN forces until 7 February 1952, then

returned to the U.S. west coast for local training and exercises. From

October 1952 to September 1953 the versatile vessel redeployed to

Korea to support minesweeping operations in Wonsan harbor. That

marked the first time the Navy used an LSD for that purpose.

After the fighting ended Epping underwent overhaul in November

1953, then resumed its station in the Far East in April. It participated

in amphibious operations at Okinawa and Korea and transported the

refugees of French Indo-China in the "Passage to Freedom" mission

during the summer of 1954. Ironically, one of its final duties was to

serve as flagship of Commander Mine Flotilla One and take part in

mine countermeasure exercises. The Navy must have learned some-

thing about the value of LSDs in mine operations after Epping’s serv-

ice in Wonsan harbor.

Sadly, Epping Forest was sold for scrapping in Japan on 30

October 1969.

At least one KWVA member, Bernard Miller, served aboard

Epping Forest during the Korean War. Reach him at N2814 Cassidy

Rd., Mauston, WI 53948-9636, 608-666-2071.

The saga of USS Epping Forest (LSD-4)

69


Official Membership Application Form The Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.

P. O. Box 407, Charleston, IL 61920-0407 (Telephone: 217-345-4414)

KWVA Regular Annual Dues = $25.00 w Associate Membership = $16.00 MOH, Ex-POW, Gold Star Parent or Spouse & Honorary - $0.00

Regular Life Membership: (May be paid in lump sum or 6 equal payments by check over a 12 month period.) Ages up to and through 35 years of age:..................$600 Ages 36 through 50 years of age: ....................$450 Ages 51 through 65 years of age: ............................$300 Ages 66 years of age and older: ......................$150

Please Check One: r New Member r Renewal Member (#___________________)

Please Check One r Medal of Honor r Regular Member r Regular Life Member r Associate Member

r Ex-POW r Honorary r Gold Star Parent r Gold Star Spouse

(Please Print)

Last Name ________________________ First Name ______________________ Middle/Maiden Name __________________

Street ________________________________ City ______________________________ State ______ Zip ____________

Apt. or Unit # (if Any) __________Phone: (________) __________________________ Year of Birth: __________________

Email ________________________________________ Chapter Number/Name (if applicable) # ____________________

All Regular members please provide the following information if applicable

Unit(s) to which Assigned Branch of Service

Division __________________r Army

Regiment __________________r Air Force

Battalion __________________r Navy

Company __________________r Marines

Other______________________r Coast Guard

“I certify, under penalty of law, that the above information provided by me for the purposes as indicated, is true and correct.”

[If you are applying for membership in a category other than Section 1, par A.1., of the “Criteria for Membership” listed below, complete the “Certification of Eligibility for KWVA Membership” Form on page 2.]

Applicant Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________

Note: If this is a GIFT Membership – please sign here to certify, under penalty of law, that to the best of your knowledge, ALL of the information you have provided about the Applicant is true and correct. [Note: If applicable, you must also complete and sign the Eligibility Form on page 2.]

Signature: ________________________________________________ Relationship to Applicant: ________________________

Make checks payable to: KWVA – Mail to: Korean War Veterans Association Inc., P. O. Box 407, Charleston, IL 61920-0407 (Or you may pay by Credit Card)

Credit Card # ______________________________________ r VISA r MASTER CARD (only)

Expiration Date ________________________ V-Code ____ Your Signature __________________________________________

Adopted 10/27/2012

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE Assigned Membership Number:__________________________________________

Dates of service:

WithIN Korea were: (See criteria below) From ________________ To

WithOUT Korea were: (See criteria below) From ________________ To __________________

Page 1of 2

70


CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR KWVA MEMBERSHIP In addition to completing the KWVA Membership Application Form on page 1, persons applying for, and qualifying for, membership under one of the categories listed below, are also required to fill in the appropriate blanks, and sign in the space provided below. Check Only One Catagory:

r Medal of Honor: I am a Medal of Honor recipient and the date on which it was awarded was: Month _____ Day ____ Year_____.

r Ex-POW: I was held as a Prisoner of War by the North Koreans, Chinese, or Russian forces at some time during the period June 25, 1950 to the present. From: Month ____ Day ____ Year ____ To: Month ____ Day ____ Year ____.

r Gold Star Parent: I am the parent of : Name [print]_______________________________, who was r killed in action, r missing in action or r died as a Prisoner of War during the Korean War on: Month _____ Day ____ Year _____.

r Gold Star Spouse: I am the spouse of: Name [print] _________________________, who was r killed in action, r missing in action or r died as a Prisoner of War on: Month _____ Day ____ Year _____.

r Associate: I have a legitimate interest in the affairs of the Korean War Veterans Association and agree to accept the terms and conditions set forth in its charter and bylaws. I do not qualify to be a Regular member.

r Honorary: I was elected as an Honorary Member of the KWVA by a vote of the Board of Directors on: Month _____ Day ____ Year _____.

“I certify, under penalty of law, that the above information provided by me for the purposes indicated is true and correct.”

Applicant Signature: ________________________________________________ Month ______ Day________ Year ______

Page 2 of 2

71


MIN from page 17

the country had changed since he left. It was when he was standing atop

the mountain Namsan, where he had set up radio antennae during the

war, that Smith said he was able to appreciate just how much develop-

ment had happened over the last 65 years. What had once been an area

of desolate bombed-out rice paddies was now a booming metropolis,

according to Smith.

“There was a resiliency to the country even when we were there,”

Smith said. As part of the Revisit Korea Program, Smith was awarded

the Ambassador of Peace Medal, an award given by the South Korean

government to show appreciation for men and women who served dur-

ing the war.

A one-Marine monument committee

Ray Bratton was featured in the November 12, 2017, Lowell

[MA] The Sun after he donated a monument to the town of

Chelmsford’s Veterans Memorial Park in honor of people who

served in the Korean War. The memorial was dedicated as part of

Chelmsford’s Veterans Day ceremony that year.

According to reporter Alana Melanson, “It has long bothered

marine Corps veteran Ray Bratton that few speak or learn of the

war that affected him so deeply.”

Bratton told her that “The problem with the Korean War was

that it lasted three years, and it was forgotten about. I always felt

that all those people lost their lives and didn’t get any recognition

for it.”

He designed the memorial with the help of the Veterans

Memorial Park Committee and solely

funded its creation. The stone was

carved and installed by Colmer

Monument Works in Lowell, MA.

Reach Ray Bratton, who served with

I/3/7, at 8 Gregory Rd., Chelmsford, MA

01824, 978-954-1469 (cell), 978-256-

9929 (home), or [email protected]

Robert Veazey, a member of Ch. 2, Paul Dill, [DE], was

interviewed recently on video by the USAF Video Unit, out of Hill

AFB, for the celebration of the 36th Fighter Squadron’s 100th anniver-

sary. The video will be part of the “Fiend Heritage” film scheduled for

publication in late September.

I was a member of the 36th “Flying Fiends” Squadron in 1952/3

and flew 72 combat missions.

Robert Veazey, [email protected]

The stone donated by Ray Bratton

Ray Bratton and his buddies as young Marines

The cameras set up in Robert Veazey’s family room for the recording

Robert Veazey and the framed illustration of the F-16 “Viper” currently flown by the 36th Squadron based at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and signed by all of the pilots of the current squadron

O O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O O

A~Vet Emblem Supply 6228 Josephine Road, Norton, VA 24273

(276)679-2096 Email: [email protected] Website Catalog only: www.avetemblemsupply.org

Hours: 8 AM - 5 pm EST Quartermaster for all Korean War Veterans

Patches, Shirts, Dress Caps, Ball Caps, KWVA Collar Brass, Hat Pins, Sew On Shoulder Rank, Epaulets,

Ribbons, Medals, and Display Cases We sew on (free) all patches by request w/shirt purchase

Same day service on most orders. Ship First Class Postage

We accept Visa / Master Card / Discover

72


Black Knights – Korea

The 37th Bombardment Squadron (L) By Antonio G. Fucci© 2017

This is a slice of history relat-ing to the 37th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Wing, N/I, Black Knights and its role during the Korean War. This history was presented at the 100th Birthday of the 37th Bomb Squadron on 11th and 12th June 2017 at Ellsworth

AFB. The following areas are some of our endeavors in Korea that the present day 37th Squadron might find interesting.

Prelude It has been 65 years since the 37th Squadron engaged in fly-

ing combat missions in Korea. During that time I’ve felt that

Korea was being treated like a black hole in outer space where

a war just happened to happen. The country and the war still

remain an opaque never-never-land.

For many years most of us who flew with the 37th during the

Korean War have lived with that period of time and our

involvement in it as simply “the Forgotten War” or the “War

before Vietnam.” History doesn’t let us off the hook that easily,

mainly because no war ever really duplicates a previous war.

The Korean War can be compared with the Vietnam War in

broad terms at best. Granted, many of the challenges we faced

between 1950 and 1953 in Korea were repeated in Southeast

Asia, and more than just a few lessons had to be relearned. But,

in Korea we had to quickly refresh ourselves on practices that

had been learned during WWII. From the standpoint of technol-

ogy, the Vietnam War was light years ahead of Korea. To us the

Korean War is not “forgotten.” We mourn for the loss of our

brethren and PRAISE the freedom that we helped attain to free

a nation, the Republic of Korea, from the enslavement of

Communism.

The ratio of casualties of the Korean War was greater (i.e., 3

years vs. 10 years) than in Vietnam. This can be best be under-

stood by the raw statistics of both wars. In three years (1950-

1953) the Korean War claimed as many American casualties

(36,000+) as did over ten years (1965-1975) of fighting in

Vietnam, where American casualties reached 58,000+.

It may be the size of Florida, but Florida it isn’t Korea was the last of the massive “Big Battalion” land battle

conflicts. For any of us that happened to fly over the MLR

(Main Line of Resistance) during a massive artillery duel

between the two armies at night, it was an awesome sight that

was never to be forgotten. It was like a scene from “Dante’s

Inferno” as far as one could see in either direction.

In Korea we flew and fought with equipment that was essen-

tially the same as that used in WWII. For example; our airborne

radar wasn’t refined enough or even available to allow us to

conduct true all-weather operations. For us, our war was still

one where you had to somehow find the enemy in the dark, set

up an attack, and then get it over with. The problem was that if

you could see them, they could see you. When that occurred

sparks would fly and you earned your pay. Also, your adrena-

line pump would shift into high gear.

One crew said they had never been in a foreign country and

seen so little of it as in Korea. Most of us only saw whatever the

moonlight or flares would illuminate. Understandably, we

didn’t waste any time getting out of that place, but not before

getting good glimpses of the countryside. It was a scene of utter

desolation.

The hills that once had contained dikes and terraces for the

cultivation of rice no longer bore any semblance of having done

so. From the air you could see that whatever topsoil existed on

the hills prior to the war was being washed into the rivers by the

monsoon rains and the rivers were being clogged with silt and

debris. The clogged rivers were in turn causing massive flood-

ing of the best food producing lowlands. For a country that even

in the best of times could barely feed itself, this was catastroph-

ic.

Had peace prevailed, and had Korea been the Garden of

Eden, it still wouldn’t have been the greatest place to be sta-

tioned according to western standards. There, buffalo pulled

“honey wagons” in which the peasants collected their own

excrement for spreading on the fields. That stuff defies descrip-

tion. It possessed a smell so deep, pungent, and penetrating that

it could literally stupefy a westerner.

If you were to look at the Korean peninsula on a world

globe, it would remind you somewhat of the shape of Florida.

In size it’s 160 miles wide and about 600 miles long. I have

often wondered how we managed to get lost as many times as

we did in Korea. True, it was night, and everything was blacked

out, but the place wasn’t very big. Heck, we had water on three

sides of us, and if you even got near the Manchurian border the

searchlights and radar-directed flak guns would let you know

you were in the wrong neighborhood.

The earth is so hard a bomb can’t dent it Although Korea is at the same latitude as San Francisco and

Philadelphia, the weather is harsh, especially in the north dur-

ing the winters. Biting Siberian winds blow down from the

Asian interior and the temperatures drop to a minus 40 F. Many

of us can remember flying night missions in the north when the

ambient temperature registered minus 60 F. Survival after a

bailout in those conditions wasn’t even worth thinking about.

At times it was so cold that our gun heaters couldn’t keep our

wing guns operable. A 500-pound bomb would hardly make a

crater in the frozen earth. Strafing was always a risky proposi-

tion; day or night, and with our 50 caliber slugs ricocheting off

the frozen ground it was sheer lunacy.

Summers are hot and humid, with a monsoon season that

73


turned Korea’s unpaved roads into quagmires. Temperatures

reach 105 F. What our air base was like during the monsoon

season is best summed up by a remark made by the Deputy

Commander of the 5th AF: “It was a terrible airfield - the

damned thing was practically under water.”

No picnic in the mountains The primary area for the 37th Bomb Squadron operations in

Korea was the great north-south wall of mountains reaching

down the eastern coast from the Yalu River in the north to

Pusan in the south. The highest peaks were about 9,000 feet

above sea level and were located around the reservoirs in North

Korea.

We did most of our train and truck busting to the south of the

reservoir area, because that’s where most of them seemed to be.

Still, we had to prowl the northern mountains. As I recall, most

of us didn’t like to go up there. It was cold, lonely, dark and

spooky. And, if anything happened, it was a 550-mile walk back

to home base.

We could fly within a few miles of the border that separates

Korea from Russia. It was only a 20-mile strip. The rest was

Manchuria. We could look across Peter the Great Bay and see

the glow of the lights of Vladivostok, Russia. At least that’s

what my navigator said they were.

Smaller hills and ranges extended inland. The western coast

consisted of broad, flat, and muddy river plains. The 3rd Bomb

Wing (our sister B-26 unit) operated on the western side of

Korea. Occasionally we would cover some of their missions

when they were weathered in, and they did the same for us.

They were always amazed at our airfield and wondered how we

managed to get in and out of the place without hitting some-

thing. We all wondered the same thing when we first landed

there.

Getting up was not guaranteed In line with this, I distinctly remember on several take-offs

how severe the cross winds were. One time, just as we became

airborne and approached the end of the runway, we had a severe

cross wind which veered us to the left. Instead of the green

lights being below us (pull up gear time), they were over to our

far right and buildings were below us.

Lumbering down the runway with two 500-pound bombs

under each wing with 3,000 pounds of bombs in the bomb bay,

along with max ammo for the 50 caliber guns, three in each

wing, two in each turret, one lower and one upper, a total of ten,

was cumbersome. Some aircraft, depending on the model, had

an additional six or eight guns in the nose. Along with this, fuel

tanks were topped off.

Taking off with this load was difficult in normal weather

conditions, let alone in severe cross winds. We lost crews that

did not make it on take-off; they crashed on the beach or into

the waters at the end of the runway.

Bombs away…maybe not Along with the take-off challenge, mechanical malfunctions

occurred. Engine failure was not prevalent, but one malfunction

did occur often: the failure of the bomb shackles to release.

Two shackles suspended each bomb. On occasion, only one

shackle released and the crew had a “hung bomb.” This mal-

function occurred to the shackles in both the bomb bay and the

ones suspended from the wings.

If the hung bomb was in the bomb bay, the gunner crawled

in the bomb bay, secured the hung shackle release lever with a

bungee cord, and returned to his compartment. He then notified

the pilot that the task was performed. The pilot would open the

bomb bay doors, the gunner would pull the cord, and the bomb

was released.

This situation also happened on the shackles suspended from

the wings. In this case the pilot would try maneuvers to shake

the bomb loose. If the bomb would not release, he notified air

control, and the plane would be routed back to base over the

water. Once back to base and on final approach, the aircraft was

landed as gently as possible so the bomb would not be shaken

loose. Once on the ground the plane would taxi to the hot spot,

where the armament crew would handle the situation.

The 37th’s Assignment at K-9 The 37th Bombardment Squadron arrived in Korea 10 May

1952 via an envelope. It was a paper transfer, as it replaced the

729th Bombardment Squadron at Pusan East Air Base (K-9).

The 729th had been one of three squadrons of the 452nd

Bombardment Wing flying out of K-9.

The 452nd was an Air Force Reserve unit recalled on 10

August 1950, at the beginning of the Korean War, for 21

months of active duty service. The unit had been in combat

since October 1950. By May 1952, all the original reserve per-

sonnel had long been KIA, MIA, or rotated back to the ZI

(USA). Replacement personnel, some of whom were recently

recalled WWII retreads or freshly minted 2nd Lieutenants, were

staffing the organization.

On 10 May 1952, the 17th Bomb Wing replaced the 452nd

Bomb Wing, which returned to reserve status. Nothing changed

) Night Intruder

At times it was so cold that our gun heaters couldn’t keep our wing guns operable. A 500-pound bomb would hardly make a crater in the frozen earth. Strafing was always a risky proposition; day or night, and with our 50 caliber slugs ricocheting off the frozen ground it was sheer lunacy.

74


except the numerical unit designation. The 452nd had consecu-

tively numbered squadrons (728th, 729th, and 730th). We had

the 34th, 37th, and 95th squadrons.

K-9: The home of hazards All airfields on the Korean Peninsula were given a “K” pre-

fix. The 37th’s airfield at Pusan, Korea was given the designa-

tion of K-9. We called it “Dogpatch,” which was our call sign.

K-9 was like a box canyon in many respects. The only open side

was 100 yards from the shore of the Sea of Japan. There was

only one runway, so loaded planes took off toward the sea no

matter what direction the wind was from. The only exception to

this was our training flights when, because of reduced ordnance

loads, the planes could clear the landward hills.

A person could write a book about the comments of aircrews

when they first arrived at K-9. Some guys remarked about the

short steel mat runway surrounded by a box canyon. It was

black topped later. The weather (rain, wind, cold and fog) made

the whole thing unreal and didn’t help matters any.

Ice was another little hazard that Mother Nature provided us

with at K-9. Our B-26s were not equipped with de-icer boots,

so this became a concern at times. On the bright side, we had

anti-icing capabilities for the props. Picking up ice in any

amount during a night time instrument climb-out with a full

load of bombs and 130 octane fuel left a crew feeling orgasmic.

Landing at K-9 also took some measure of a pilot’s ability.

After a night mission he still had to face landing on the slippery

runway. Just the moisture from the morning dew made it as

slick as polished glare ice. Bear in mind, this was before revers-

ing propellers and anti-skid brake systems were available. (We

had hydraulic brakes) Also, there was a wicked dike at the end

of the runway. It was run into more than once and claimed a few

lives.

Although K-9 airfield was never under direct enemy attack,

we were a prime candidate. A detachment of U.S. Army engi-

neers working on improving our runway was ambushed and

murdered at a gravel pit a short distance from the base during

late 1952. Also, various electronic homing beacons in the area

were attacked on several occasions.

Mission mayhem Our primary mission in Korea was to deprive the enemy of

the capability of staging a prolonged offensive by disrupting his

supply lines. We flew Combat Interdiction. The relentless day

and eventually night interdiction of the movement of the

enemy’s men and material, as well as our delivery of effective

front line support, was a major factor in the restoration of per-

sonal freedom and national security for the long suffering peo-

ple of the Republic of Korea. (Our aircraft were painted black

and the title “Black Knights” was born.)

To be effective for our mission we flew at low levels. When

we dropped the bombs, we could feel the percussion from the

explosion of the bomb. The enemy strung cables across the

mountain peaks, so we lost several aircrafts in this manner. If

the cables were strung close to the MLR/Bomb line, search-

lights from our side zeroed in on the cables attach points so we

could see the cables.

Missions were low level, below 500 feet. Many on final runs

were at 100 feet. Low level was a necessity to identify any tar-

gets, since all target acquisition was visual. Identifying a target

on moonlit nights was easier. Chasing a train was easy, as the

engine gave itself away with the smoke it exhausted. Convoys

and troop movements were more difficult to detect. Again, it

was all visual, and we did not have IR (infrared) capabilities.

The enemy could hear us, and when we shot a burst, we were

totally visible.

Though we inflicted huge losses on the enemy, they still

managed to stage some very damaging offensives. Oriental

manpower seemed to overtake western technology. Our ability

to inflict damage was equaled by the enemy’s ability to repair

the damage. In effect, we pitted skilled crews, equipped with

expensive and modern aircraft (WWII), against unskilled

coolies armed with picks and shovels.

Trucks are better than planes Here’s a good example of the situation that existed back

then. In July of 1951 communist ground forces fired only about

8,000 rounds of artillery and mortar against our positions. But,

in May 1952 they directed 102,000 rounds at our ground forces.

General Ridgway, 8th Army Commander, stated at that time,

“There’s little doubt that communist ground divisions have

accumulated adequate supplies. The hostile forces opposing the

Eighth Army have a substantially greater potential than at any

time in the past.”

During this time communist ground fire wrought increasing

losses on the B-26s. By the summer of 1952, Colonel George

Brown, 5th AF Director of Operations, could only report that

“We are trading B-26s for trucks in a most uneconomical man-

ner.”

Our goal was to perpetrate some mean things on the enemy

and his transportation system, bring the aircraft back to home

base in one piece, and park it. To most of the flight crews, it all

boiled down to a rather basic and simple equation; one crew and

one airplane, versus the night, the terrain, and whatever the

enemy had to take us down. This was like a big crap game, “a

roll of the dice.”

A sunrise is a beautiful thing—if you live to see it Sometimes, if you happened to have one of the last missions

of the night, you’d still be on your way out of North Korea as

the sun came up. As always, in desperate situations, there is

consolation.

Looking over one wing you see a beautiful peaceful sunrise.

Over the other you see the blackness of night and the horror that

was left behind. It was an unbelievable sight. The views over

wings aside, the end result of our efforts and those of others is

that we saved a nation from the enslavement of communism

and preserved its peace, freedom, and prosperity.

That alone is like a ray of sunshine in a mountain of dark-

ness.

The men A unique thing about the men who flew Night Intruder

Missions during the Korean War is that we hardly knew each

75


other. To this day, many of the men don’t know much about

their fellow squadrons within the wing. In some cases we barely

knew the other crews within our own squadron.

We always flew alone and at night. During the daytime we

tried to sleep. Sometimes we would have daytime training mis-

sions to the Naktong or Mundo ranges for gunnery, bomb, and

rocket practice. Briefing for the crews flying that night would

take place at about 1500 hours. Afterwards we would check out

our aircraft, ammo and bomb load, eat supper, and try to sleep

some more before take-off time.

Take-off times varied from 1800 to 0300 hours. The whole

thing was a “twilight zone” type of experience. Many combat

crews flew an entire mission tour in four months, although I

would guess that the majority of them took five months or

more. We spent a great amount of time in the air for such a short

period. Time to socialize with your fellow airmen was rare.

The very nature of the Night Intruder business combined

with our schedule didn’t allow us much of a chance to bring the

overall situation into focus very well. Our main strength and

perhaps our closest loyalties as well seemed to be contained

within us as an air crew.

It’s difficult to explain this without encountering feelings

that we had long ago. The majority of us had been together as

crews since the beginning of combat crew training at Langley

Field, Virginia. We grew close to one another and learned to

function as a team. We had to.

In Korea the mountainous terrain and the enemy didn’t let

too many mistakes pass unnoticed. We lived, flew. and, on

occasion, died together. It was always in the dark of the night,

as a crew, alone. A strong bond developed within the crew.

Years later it is still strong. Details of events back then have

faded with time, but the feelings remain undiminished.

As far as personnel were concerned we had as diverse a

group of men as could be found anywhere on earth, with the

possible exception of the French Foreign Legion. A good num-

ber of our men were WWII combat veterans and Regular Air

Force. Others were also WWII combat veterans but were

recalled Reservists who, understandably, would have preferred

to be some place other than fighting in Korea.

Still another element was the kids fresh out of school. It took

all kinds. This combination of age and experience levels created

some interesting situations. Sometimes a crew would have a

freshly minted 2nd Lieutenant as a pilot and aircraft command-

er, while the navigator was a well-seasoned captain. A few hairy

night missions in the north soon adjusted priorities and leveled

personalities—and that included the ground crews.

There cannot be enough said about the ground crews and

maintenance personnel and their devotion to keeping us flying.

Before taking off on a mission, the crew chief was there waiting

for us to assure us that the aircraft was in perfect running con-

dition. And he waited there for us to return. Simply put, he was

willing to do “whatever it takes” to have a successful mission.

The aircraft At one time or another during the Korean War we were allo-

cated just about every type and version of the Douglas B-26

Invader that was ever built. Perhaps it should be said rebuilt, as

they had been built during WWII and most had seen prior serv-

ice. Generally, by the time we received them they had been

modified and updated. The nose wheel strut and support

seemed to be the only structural weakness of the Invader. Even

at that, it took a fair amount of abuse to collapse one.

Many of these same planes would be supplied to the French

forces in Indo-China after we finished with them in Korea.

Then, a decade later, we used them again in Vietnam. Age and

long hard service finally caught up with the B-26 during the

early part of that war. Several were lost when in-flight structur-

al failures occurred with the loss of crew and aircraft. Overall,

the Douglas B-26 Invader was one tough airplane.

I don’t think combat aircraft were meant to be comfortable,

and our Invaders were no exception to the rule. They were

freezing in the winter, but we did have heated suits, boiling in

the summer, leaky when it rained. They posed a gymnastic chal-

lenge to climb into. But, they were probably no better or worse

than any of the other aircraft of that era.

The Douglas B-26, like the Martin B-26, is a good-looking

airplane. Even painted black, like our planes were in Korea,

they had class—sort of like consorting with an expensive “Lady

of the Night!”

The Enemy Flying the type of missions we did, we got to know the

enemy on an almost personal basis. At times they would seem

about as familiar as some of our own people; they were more

predictable anyway. Although we rarely, if ever, saw enemy

personnel in the dark, we learned to know and grudgingly

respect them from their habits and perseverance.

Most missions were 4 to 5 hours long; with about half of that

time spent prowling as close to the ground as we could get

without becoming a statistic. Almost all of our flying was done

over extremely rugged and hostile terrain and in narrow moun-

tain valleys with winding roads. It was all very intimidating and

I don’t recall ever really adjusting to it.

Flak traps were common, and if we were caught “low and

slow” in a valley it was bad news. There just wasn’t much room

to maneuver to evade the flak guns without getting smeared on

a hillside. In modern day business jargon you could say, “Our

options were extremely limited.”

Sometimes we would encounter a coordinated series of flak

Please turn to INVADER on page 79

In Korea the mountainous terrain and the enemy didn’t let too many mistakes pass unnoticed. We lived, flew, and, on occasion, died together. It was always in the dark of the night, as a crew, alone.

76


helped found the Memorial, was given an award for her dedica-

tion to its upkeep. Ch. 300 Commander John Thompson was the

MC of the ceremony. Ch. 299 Founder Jeff Brodeur, Past

Commander Al McCarthy, and KCG Kim were guest speakers.

Joe McCallion, one of the original founders of the KWVA,

read a poem.

Jeff Brodeur, 48 Square Rigger Ln., Hyannis, MA 02601

HAWAII

Memorial Day 2018 in Hawaii was celebrated at the National

Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl in the

morning and at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery at Kaneohe in

the afternoon by KWVA Hawaii Chapter 1 and KWVA Aloha

Chapter.

Stan Fujii, [email protected]

MEMORIAL DAY 2018 from page 55MEMORIAL DAY 2018 from page 55

KWVA group with Consul General Kim at Charlestown, MA

Korean Defense plaque at Charlestown, MA

Members of Aloha Chapter

Attractive program cover designed by students at Kapole High School

Each grave decorated with American flag and flower lei by Boy Scouts

Hawaii Chapter 1 veterans

Revisit coordinator Walter Ozawa and assistant Tommy Tahara


BARRE, VT

Here are a few photos I took while attending my 63rd year of

the patriotic remembrance of Barre’s veterans and their ‘thinning

ranks’! They included two WW2, one Korea, two Vietnam, and

several from the many other wars. It struck me that WW2 and the

Korean War will soon be only memories as we fade away.

I told Tim Hoyt, “God willing, save me a ride Nov. 11th for

Veterans Day”! I know there are many Barre area veterans of var-

ious wars and I hope they get the spirit to once again join their

fellow vets and demonstrate their patriotism.

Tim, the WW2 vet, said “And we thought we would be the

last to go off to foreign wars!” We weren’t. Tragic, but true!

The applauding sidewalk crowd of kids and adults of all ages

showed their respect that gives any old veteran a boost of spirit!

My thought at Taps was “ They gave up all their tomorrows to

enable us to have our today”

God Bless & Peace,

Wayne Pelkey, [email protected]

CRANFORD, NJ

The parade is always led by the VFW, me being the Grand

Marshal this year. I drove a WWII jeep through town for about

one-and-a-half miles, with crowds on both sides of the street

basically shoulder to shoulder. It ended at Memorial Park, where

we had a large ceremony on a perfect weather day attended by an

estimated 1,000 people.

The parade had the VFW, American Legion, policemen, fire-

men, their cars and trucks, boy scouts, girl scouts, seven different

bands playing patriotic songs, 45 motorcycles, antique cars, and

about 400 “paraders.” At the ceremony I gave a talk about my

friend with whom I shared a shack at K-9, Korea. He was a

WWII retread B-26 pilot recalled to active duty.

In civilian life he was a college professor with a wife and two

small daughters. We couldn’t find him one afternoon. Then we

learned why: he had created a school for our Korean house girls

to teach them English and about American life.

A tour was fifty tough combat missions to destroy anything

that moved in North Korea. The policy was to try to find less

dangerous missions for

the last ten flights. He

did not return from the

48th mission.

Art Snyder

77

ROTC cadets, Jimmy Shin, and Richard Higa at State Cemetery

Wreath bear-ers Bobby Imose and Stan Fujii assisted by Kapolei High School

Art Snyder, Grand Marshal of the Cranford, NJ parade

WW2 vet Tim Hoyt, 91, driving his new Buick—and chauffer of marked car Korean and Vietnam Vets- first in parade after Honor Guard

Spaulding High School Junior ROTC always look-ing sharp for Barre parade

Laying of the Wreath by a Gold Star Mother in Barre, VT

School bands ‘tooting it up’ for Barre, VT parade

78


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ROBERT L. KELLS ALFRED KLAGES JOSEPH A. LAGANA JEFFREY H. LAWRENCE HAROLD R. LAWSON BRUCE E. LEWIS CONO LOMBARDI CHARLES E. MAHAN BILLY J. MARTIN WILLIAM J. MATTES ALBERT R. MEMMELAAR JACK W. PERKINS DANIEL D. RUSCILLO SR. ARNOLD J. STEGMAN ELIZABETH TABOR DEFOREST W. TRUMAN LUIS VILLAFANE RICHARD VOEHRINGER

NORTH CAROLINA ROBERT M. HALL JACK W. HALLBERG

OHIO THOMAS E. AYERS MICHAEL BARBORAK DALE A. CAMPBELL EDWIN DEWITT LLOYD A. EDWARDS LLOYD W. HARMS HARRY O. HARVEY DONALD J. HENTHORN THOMAS E. HILLMAN III JOHN T. HUTCHISON JAMES H. JARVIS RICHARD W. KOKER JACK H. MAYSE JOSEPH E. MILLER DANIEL M. MONTVILLE SR. WILLIAM W. NIEBUHR WILLIAM J. OTY JOHN F. PIFHER WALTER F. SCHNEIDER JAMES R. SHEPPARD THOMAS N. TRAVIS HERBERT T. WILDE LEONARD E. WRIGHT

OKLAHOMA PETER M. BAILEY JAMES W. LAUGHLIN ELMO F. PHILLIPS MICHAEL R. PRESTIANNI JAMES B. SCHLATHER CHARLES S. TAYLOR

OREGON WILLIAM L. BOLAND ROBERT O. NOVAK KAYE D. SNYDER CLAYTON H. THOMPSON

PENNSYLVANIA ROBERT W. BRETZ GEORGE W. BUTZ MICHAEL J. CONDE JAMES G. W. DENNIS

Last CallAll of us in the Korean War Veterans Association extend our sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those listed below. May they rest in peace.

79


GEORGE DUNKLEY FRANK E. FAY JR. DENNIE HEARLD JR. JOSEPH J. KIRBY CLAYTON MELSON DUNCAN D. METZGER LAWRENCE A. MOLITORIS EDWARD NEWMAN EDWARD L. SOUKUP ROBERT W. STRYKER

RHODE ISLAND DAVID E. BARTON JAMES P. DEGNAN THERESA M. KEENAN

DONALD LARGE JAMES LEONARD MARSLAND ROBERT T. RANDALL ANGELO SETTE

SOUTH CAROLINA IRBY T. GRANT WILLIAM B. HARRIS JAMES E. MEADOR DALE R. MERRITT

SOUTH DAKOTA WARREN STONE

TENNESSEE GEORGE R. FAGER JR. CHARLES A. SETTLE SR.

ROGER R. VANREKOM

TEXAS ALBERT N. CAULLEY RICHARD K. CHAMBERLAIN JAMES T. GILL OLIVER K. HILL RALPH L. LONG RICHARD W. MILLER KENNETH C. MUELLER GEORGE SIERRA WILLIE J. THAGARD LEON TURMAN DONALD S. TURNER SAMUEL VELA

CHARLES STANTON VERRET SR. ROBERT F. WALSH W. B. WOODRUFF JR.

UTAH DON G. REAVELEY

VIRGINIA RAYMOND LEE HARDING SR. MARVIN E. MAYGARDEN MARK S. MEYERS JOHN G. MORELAND ROMUALD N. NICKLES RICHARD W. SMITH

WASHINGTON NICK ALEX

RICHARD L. PAYNE

WEST VIRGINIA JAMES E. ENNIS WALTER FERRELL JR. FRANK F. PERROCK BOBBY B. THOMPSON

WISCONSIN ROBERT R. BERTZ JOHN G. KOLLER JR. HARRY G. SCHULTZ REUBEN C. TIEDT

UNKNOWN HOWARD I. DUNLAP

traps. Each enemy gun crew would let the next one know you

were coming their way. The reception we received was at times

spectacular. After a night of that kind of activity it sometimes

was difficult to relax or sleep after returning to home base.

Once the aircraft was parked and secured, a Jeep transported

us to HQ to be debriefed by Intelligence. To get ready for that,

we were given “Old Methuselah” or, when available,

“Seagram’s V.O.” medicinal liquid (debriefing booze) to relax

us to respond to Intel’s questions. This “liquid” sometimes

helped. The ritual happened after every mission as we were

debriefed.

“FIGMO” Ribbon The FIGMO Ribbon was a 37th Squadron tradition, as histo-

ry would say it always was. But to the best of today’s knowl-

edge, which I can attest to, specifically from the 17th Bomb

Wing (L) N/I, K-9, Korea. 34th, 37th & 95th Squadrons, it is as

follows:

What is it? The ribbon is approximately 10” long, and ¼” wide, gold in

color with a black banding and is one of the most cherished rib-

bons to receive…Upon receipt of this ribbon, it is the authori-

zation to PCS to the ZI.

How it is earned? It is earned in two sequential stages.

1. Successfully complete the authorized number of sorties.

2. Upon completion of the last mission and during and after

debriefing from Intel, a “medicinal” liquid is presented to the

FIGMO Ribbon recipient which has the FIGMO Ribbon

attached from the distillery (Seagram’s V.O.) This was in lieu of

Old Methuselah.

Upon successfully dispensing this medicinal liquid by the

recipient and fellow crew members, the Ribbon is removed

from the container holding this liquid and the Senior Officer

presents it to the recipient with a gracious salute and hand-

shake.

This ribbon is to be worn as part of their uniform until date

of departure. The ribbon is placed on the zipper handle on the

upper left of the flight jacket.

Our FIGMO mission was significant, other than being your

last mission. At debriefing, instead of “Old Methuselah” to

relax you during debriefing, you were honored with Seagram’s

VO, which was shared with your crew and others on comple-

tion of the required missions. On the neck of the bottle was a

Gold Ribbon with black edges. I still have mine on my flight

jacket!

Epilogue What did we do to aid in the effort to bring about the July 27,

1953 armistice? I do not know the specifics of the 37th, but

below is the information of the 3 B-26 Wings that served in

Korea: the 3rd, 17th and 452nd.

The information below is from WIKIPEDIA – probably as

accurate as any that can be found.

“When the North Korean Army invaded the South on 25

June 1950, the USAF was critically short of flight bombers. The

B-26 Invaders in Japan proved to be valuable in the night inter-

diction role and it fell to the B-26 to fly the first and last bomb-

ing missions of the Korean War.

“Their first mission was on 28 June 1950, when they

attacked the railroads supplying the enemy forces over South

Korea. Their first attack on North Korea was on 29 June, when

they bombed the main airfield in Pyongyang. The Invaders of

the 3rd, 17th and 452nd Bomb Wings flew some 60,000 sorties

and were credited with the destruction of 38,500 vehicles,

3,700 railway cars and 406 locomotives.

“The B-26 had the honor of flying the last combat sortie of

the Korean War when, 24 minutes before the Armistice

Agreement went into effect on 27 July 1953, a B-26 of the 3rd

Bomb Wing dropped the last bombs of the Korean War.”

As a note, the following is printed in the booklet “Within

Limits,” entitled “The U.S. Air Force and the Korean War,” by

Wayne Thompson and Bernard C. Nalty, published by the Air

Force History and Museum Program in 1956: “What is needed

to improve effectiveness of Interdiction was not more bombs

dropped from high flying B-29s but low-altitude aircraft that

could locate and destroy truck convoys and trains moving at

night…., Air Force B-26s…”

Antonio G. Fucci/FBI/April 2017 Black Knight/37th Bomb Squadron (L) Night Intruder K-9 This slice of history was prepared by Antonio Fucci and edited by my fellow Black Knights Ted Baker, Don Eaton, Bob Reynolds and Charles Tucker.

INVADER from page 75

Address Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID Jacksonville, FL PERMIT NO. 3

Korean War Veterans Association, P.O. Box 407, Charleston, IL 61920

Sacrifice and Remembrance: United Nations Command Chaplain Army Col. Sam Lee performs a blessing of sacri-fice and remembrance on the 55 cases of remains returned by North Korea at Osan Air Base, South Korea, July 27, 2018. Army photo by Sgt. Quince Lanford.

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